January 20, 2020 - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson today tried out kinetic energy technology which converts footsteps into electricity as he announced a UK government ban on investment in overseas coal mining and power plants.

The Prime Minister said 'not another penny of UK taxpayers' money will be directly invested in digging up coal or burning it for electricity' as he set out proposals to shake up Britain's aid budget.

Johnson had earlier used a speech at the summit to announce a ban on UK government investment in overseas coal mining.

The PM made the pledge in an address at the UK Africa Investment Summit in central London and he underlined his commitment to cleaner energy by then having a go at generating power by jumping up and down on a set of smart tiles.

He was shown how the technology, developed by a company called Pavegen, works before suggesting that something similar had once been floated by Transport for London.

Johnson had earlier used his speech to set out his belief that the UK's post-Brexit immigration system would enable closer links between Britain and Africa because border control will change to put 'people before passports'.

Johnson said the UK government will no longer provide any direct support for thermal coal mining or coal power plants overseas.

He argued it would make no sense for such investment to continue given the efforts the UK has made to clean up its own energy production.

He said: 'There is no point in the UK reducing the amount of coal we burn if we then trundle over to Africa and line our pockets by encouraging African states to use more of it.

'We all breathe the same air, we live beneath the same sky, we all suffer when carbon emissions rise and the planet warms.

'So from today the British government will no longer provide any new direct official development assistance... for thermal coal mining or coal power plants overseas.

'To put it simply not another penny of UK taxpayers' money will be directly invested in digging up coal or burning it for electricity.'

Johnson sought to use the summit as an opportunity to enhance business links between Britain and Africa after Brexit.

He said the UK has 'no divine right to that business' but urged African leaders to listen to 'what we have to offer'.

He said the UK is the 'ultimate one stop shop for the ambitious, growing international economy' before telling the summit his new Australian-style points-based immigration system would help improve relations.

'One thing is changing: Our immigration system,' he said.

'I know that it is an issue which people have raised with me in the past but change is coming and our system is becoming fairer and more equal as between all our global friends and partners, treating people the same wherever they come from.

'By putting people before passports we will be able to attract the best talent from around the world wherever they may be.'