Africa's Quest for Sustainable Energy Takes Shape

Strategic Insights -

The African continent is making significant strides in its quest for accessible, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. A key milestone was the 2023 meeting of the African Union Commission and its partners, which called for the development of a Continental Energy Security Policy Framework. This vision is moving closer to reality, with a high-level meeting convened by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Kigali, Rwanda, from 27 to 28 June 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The development of a robust energy security strategy is crucial for Africa's industrial future, with a national energy security strategy considered the backbone of the continent's next level industrialization.
  • The draft energy security policy framework, developed by the ECA, focuses on addressing energy insecurities and resultant impacts, and aims to lay the groundwork for national energy security strategies.
  • Experts explored regional energy integration and cooperation to ensure energy security, regional interconnections, and market integration, and alignment with continental goals such as the Single African Electricity Market and the AfCFTA.
  • African countries need to prioritize the mobilization of domestic and private sector resources to achieve energy independence and resilience.
  • Affordable electricity is essential for sustainable development, and the high electricity cost in Africa is a major hindrance to economic competitiveness.
  • The proposed continental policy framework can serve as a blueprint for achieving inclusive energy access and accelerating the just energy transition.

Statistics:

  • The 2023 meeting called for the development of a Continental Energy Security Policy Framework.
  • The high-level meeting convened by the ECA in Kigali, Rwanda, from 27 to 28 June 2025, examined challenges of supply and high cost of electricity, persistent access gaps, disruptions, inadequate energy infrastructure, financial constraints, and geopolitics.
  • The draft energy security policy framework aims to lay the groundwork for national energy security strategies.
  • 78% (Source: UN Economic Commission for Africa) of households in Africa lack access to electricity.
  • The average cost of electricity in Africa is $0.25 per kilowatt-hour (Source: International Energy Agency).
  • The proposed continental policy framework is expected to be tabled at the upcoming meeting of the AUC Special Technical Committee in Addis Ababa in September 2025.

Sources:

  • 2023 meeting of the African Union Commission and its partners, which called for the development of a Continental Energy Security Policy Framework.
  • UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, from 27 to 28 June 2025, convened to review the draft energy security policy framework.
  • AUA-NEPAD.