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Africa Energy Forum calls for unity to tackle energy crisis
The 27th Africa Energy Forum (AEF) commenced in Cape Town today, emphasizing the urgent need for continental cooperation to address Africa's energy crisis, which leaves 600 million people without electricity. Leaders gathered to declare that immediate action is essential to transform the continent's energy landscape.
Amadou Hott, former Special Envoy of the President of the African Development Bank, delivered a keynote address underscoring the central theme of the forum. He stated, “Energy is everything. Without abundant, reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy, we have no transformation.” Hott articulated a vision for energy integration across Africa, advocating for economic unity that would enable projects like hydroelectric dams in Kinshasa powering industries in Lusaka.
The financial requirements are staggering; Africa will need $250 billion annually by 2030 to meet energy demands, with the electricity sector alone requiring $120 billion each year. Hott noted that despite housing 20% of the world's population, Africa attracts only 3% of global energy investments.
Lerato Mataboge, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, reinforced the urgency, stating that without intervention, 570 million people will remain without electricity by 2030. She highlighted the human cost, revealing that approximately 600,000 women and children die annually due to inefficient energy sources, framing energy access as a human rights issue.
Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South Africa’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, emphasized that electricity is a fundamental human right and not a luxury. Through the Mission 300 initiative, the African Union aims to electrify 300 million people by 2030, requiring just $25 billion per year.
Private sector leader Goran Rajsic of SUN Africa echoed the urgency, asserting that “Africa needs electricity yesterday.” His company is developing 400 megawatts of solar capacity in Angola while advocating for a model that ensures infrastructure remains sovereign.
The forum will continue until June 20, with leaders stressing the need for integrated solutions. As Hott concluded, “Let’s move decisively from PowerPoint to power plants, from intentions to connections, from fragmented markets to one united, electrified, and economically empowered Africa.”