Rising Demand, Stretched Infrastructure
Africa stands at the center of the global energy transition, yet faces a stark imbalance between rising demand and limited infrastructure. Rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrial ambitions are driving energy consumption upward, but generation and transmission capacity lag behind. Despite vast renewable potential in solar, wind, and geothermal resources, installation rates remain modest and uneven across regions. Transmission and distribution networks are outdated, fragmented, and insufficiently interconnected, constraining electricity access for households and industries alike. This mismatch threatens to slow economic development and limit progress toward universal energy access.
Governance and Inclusion at the Core of the Challenge
Beyond technical deficits, governance weaknesses present an equally formidable barrier. Many African countries lack coherent policy frameworks, stable regulation, and long-term planning mechanisms that can attract sustained private investment. Decision- making often excludes local communities, undercutting social legitimacy and perpetuating inequalities in who benefits from new projects. Without reforms that enhance transparency, accountability, and public participation, the “just” aspect of the energy transition risks being lost—transforming what should be a development opportunity into another layer of exclusion-.
Building Systems, Not Just Projects
A just energy transition in Africa will require more than building wind farms or solar plants—it demands systemic transformation. Expanding grid connectivity, investing in regional power pools, and aligning energy, industrial, and social policies must go hand in hand. Equally important is ensuring that new infrastructure translates into jobs, local manufacturing, and knowledge transfer. The transition, if guided by strong governance and inclusive development principles, could redefine Africa’s economic trajectory and secure its place in the global clean-energy landscape. But without decisive coordination, the continent risks remaining energy-poor in a renewable-rich world.