The first step has been taken in an ambitious project to create an efficient, competitive energy sector that helps to serve Africa’s vast non-connected population, which is key to the continent’s economic prospects
The African Union Development Agency (Auda-Nepad) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have just released recommendations of a baseline study that looked into the development of a continental energy grid and market.
Supported by the European Union, its recommendations were discussed at a roundtable meeting between the partners organised by AfDB last Wednesday.
African energy ministers called on Auda-Nepad to promote a continental transmission masterplan at an AU meeting on Infrastructure (transport, energy and tourism) held in Nouakchott and Cairo in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
“This will be a game changer since, in the long term, a continental transmission network will allow energy trade within Africa, as well as off the continent, with Europe and Asia through existing links,” said Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the Auda-Nepad.
The baseline study constitutes the first of two phases of the masterplan. The next phase entails the development of the plan itself.
“Our continent has a vision to develop a single electricity grid that will guarantee secure, reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supplies to enhance the economic prospects of the continent, especially for our children. This can only be realised with a well-coordinated, widely accepted and highly articulated masterplan,” said Cheikh Bedda, director energy, at the African Union Commission.
“The masterplan will provide a holistic roadmap to connect countries to each other within a single regional power pool and to connect the power pools into a single electricity market, promoting energy access and regional integration,” said Kevin Kariuki, vice president for power, energy, climate & green growth at the African Development Bank Group.
Over 640 million Africans have no access to energy, corresponding to an electricity access rate for African countries of just over 4%, the lowest in the world. Per capita consumption of energy in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) is 180 kWh, compared to 13 000 kWh per capita in the United States and 6 500 kWh in Europe.
