Conference To Spotlight Africa’s Energy Security

The challenge of improving access to energy in Africa will be addressed at the upcoming Enlit Africa conference and expo when it returns to Cape Town from 16–18 May 2023. 

The chief executive officer (CEO), PAMAfrica, Nigeria, has been named key speaker where he is expected to present private sector roadmap to resolve Nigeria’s energy crises and initiatives to promote energy transition by exploring untapped natural resources the country is endowed with.

At the conference, key sessions would focus on Africa’s just energy transition and the importance of ensuring that energy access is a central outcome of that transition.

“We believe that the issue of energy access cannot be ignored,” said the event’s content director, Claire Volkwyn, adding that, “with figures predicting that between 700 million and 900 million are currently without energy access in Africa, this is a crisis that must be addressed.”

In a report released by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on 21st of March, 2023, some of the real-life impacts of the lack of energy access, such as; implications for health, education, poverty reduction and sustainable development, were addressed. 

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The report added that, ‘commodities at a glance: Special issue on access to energy in sub-Saharan Africa,’ warning that, without additional efforts, the region’s population without access to clean fuels could increase to over 1.1 billion people in 2030.

“Access to a reliable and quality energy supply is vital to the economic development of any country. It drives industrialisation, boosts productivity and economic growth, spurs human development, and is crucial to achieve almost all of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Africa has arrived at an intersection between affordability, reliability and access to power, while this position presents incredible opportunities and inspires innovation, at the same time, it also creates some tension, particularly regarding the SDGs and the energy transition.”

She explained that, “Africa’s just energy transition ambitions are being tested in the face of a global recession, rising poverty, unemployment and falling revenue. In addition to the staggering sums of investment that have been identified for the technology and headline achievements of the energy transition, Africa is facing the reality that it will likely not meet SDG7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”