The Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP)
The GTP is the government’s development plan for 2010–2015. It sets some targets for energy – generation of an additional 8,000MW electricity from renewables for domestic use and export, expansion of the electricity customer base from 41% to 75%, and expansion of transmission and distribution systems (which suffer from a high loss rate). It also sets out targets with regards to biofuels to minimise the gap between supply and demand – Increasing bio-ethanol production to 194.9m litres and bio-diesel usage to 1.6bn litres and increasing the number of ethanol blending facilities to 8, and biodiesel to 72.
The GTP focuses on building institutional capacity, enhancing energy development and management capabilities and awareness. The electric power company is to undergo complete restructuring and regulation is to be developed and strengthened.
A policy matrix helps to integrate the GTP, tracking the progress of key indicators in several sectors of the economy. The system provides the government with mechanisms to measure the efficiency of government actions and the effectiveness of public policies in achieving the objectives stated in the GTP. This policy matrix compares the annual targets against the indicators in the GTP. Each target and indicator is also linked with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The GTP explicitly addresses the sustainability of growth, stating that “environmental conservation plays a vital role in sustainable development. Building a ‘green economy’ and on-going implementation of environmental laws are among the key strategic directions to be pursued during the plan period.
