"Obama Announces $12B in New Aid To Africa Power Sector"

"President Obama unveiled $12 billion in new pledges from the private sector and government institutions on Tuesday to help strengthen Africa's electric power infrastructure.

The new commitments to Obama's Power Africa initiative, which the president launched last year, bring total funding of the program to more than $26 billion, according to a White House fact sheet. The initiative is meant to make sure the continent adds 30,000 megawatts of additional capacity and expand access to electricity to at least 60 million households and business.

On Tuesday, new investors included the World Bank, which will commit $5 billion in direct financing, guarantees, and advisory services to Power Africa. The Swedish government is also contributing to the energy program."

Laura Barron-Lopez reports for The Hill August 5, 2014.