#Power to the Poorest - An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide, including 550 million in Africa and 400 million in India, have no access to electricity. Most live in rural areas where the population is sparse and incomes are low, making it uneconomical to connect homes and businesses to a grid. Nor is it feasible to generate power locally with a diesel unit, owing to high fuel costs and the need for substantial initial investment.

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/werner-bergholz-proposes-a-boot-strap-model-for-developing-countries--energy-sectors