Latest news with #energypoverty
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nugeria: Zamfara, gov Lawal, REA sign MoU on solar energy
The Zamfara State government and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on solar energy in Abuja. Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday, Governor Dauda Lawal described Zamfara as an ideal site for the harvest of solar energy, highlighting the availability of intense sunlight all year round throughout the area. A statement by the Governor's spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the MoU on solar energy signing ceremony also featured roundtable discussions and commitments involving energy sector stakeholders. According to the statement, the roundtable focused on revitalising the Zamfara electricity sector to promote social justice, strategic development and innovation through renewable energy. In his remarks, Governor Lawal said he inherited a government gripped by widespread energy poverty. The Governor said, 'Many Local Government Areas were disconnected from the national grid. Public utilities were decayed, vandalised or non-functional. Critical infrastructure had collapsed under years of neglect and our industrial and commercial centres were crippled by unreliable power supply. 'However, we chose not to wallow in the blame game. Instead, we intentionally responded to the challenges we met with strategic vision, unwavering resolve and decisive action. 'Since then, our administration has embarked on a mission to rewrite that narrative by placing energy access at the heart of our development strategy. We launched one of the country's most ambitious state-led transformer deployment programmes, installing more than 150 units across urban and rural communities. 'In collaboration with Kaduna Electric, we restored power to six Local Government Areas, and we are reconnecting seven more, some of which have been without power for over a decade. These efforts are part of a plan to expand access, stimulate enterprise and unlock private sector investment.' Governor Lawal noted that Zamfara offers compelling advantages for renewable energy investment. 'We are blessed with high-intensity year-round sunlight, making us a prime location for solar farms, mini-grids and standalone systems. 'Coupled with this is the immense potential of the Bakalori Dam, a largely untapped hydropower asset with an irrigation command area of over 30,000 hectares. This synergy of solar and hydro presents an opportunity to deploy hybrid energy solutions that can power semi-urban and rural clusters. 'Our agricultural sector is another strong anchor. Zamfara is consistently ranked among Nigeria's top millet, sorghum, soybeans and groundnuts producers. We are repositioning this sector through improved inputs, mechanised systems and irrigation rehabilitation. 'Yet, what is lacking and what renewable energy can provide is the critical power infrastructure needed for agro-processing, cold-chain storage and value addition at the source. Energy is the missing link that can transform our agrarian communities into engines of rural industrialisation. 'Our infrastructure renewal is exemplified by the nearly completed Gusau International and Cargo Airport, envisioned as a gateway for passengers, trade, logistics and investments. 'To realise our green vision, we aim for this facility to be Nigeria's first airport powered by at least 50 per cent renewable energy, offering RESCOs a chance to lead in sustainable aviation,' the Governor said. Earlier, the REA Managing Director, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, assured Governor Lawal of the agency's commitment to deploying electricity infrastructure in Zamfara State. 'For the first time in the history of Nigeria, mapping the entire country has been done and it shows the number and location of the people who do not have electricity. The nature of their community and their electricity demand. 'This helps the RESCOs, the finances and the state government develop a strategy for channelling efforts to ensure that these people have electricity,' he said. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Afreximbank Appoints Dr. George Elombi as President in Strategic Move for African Energy Trade
The shareholders of multilateral financial institution the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have appointed Dr. George Elombi as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Elombi succeeds Professor Benedict Oramah to become the fourth president since the bank's establishment in 1993. The move signals a strategic shift for the institution as it strives to become a $250 billion bank in the next 10 years. As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) congratulates Dr. Elombi on his appointment as President and Chair. In this capacity, Dr. Elombi is poised to play an instrumental part in leading the bank's long-term objectives. At a time when Africa is seeking to alleviate energy poverty, enhance industrialization and accelerate low-term and sustainable development, institutions such as Afreximbank play a vital role in financing African energy projects and trade efforts. Under the leadership of Dr. Elombi, Afreximbank is well-positioned to play an even greater role in transforming Africa's energy industry. Over the years, Dr. Elombi has held various positions at Afreximbank, including Chair of the Emergency Response Committee – where he mobilized over $2 billion for vaccine acquisition and deployment across Africa and the Caribbean – and head of the Equity Mobilization and Investor Relations department. In this position, he supported the bank as it increased its total ordinary equity to $3.6 billion as of April 2025. Looking ahead, Dr. Elombi has committed to ensuring Afreximbank serves as a force for industrializing Africa and regaining the dignity of Africans wherever they are. He has vowed to not only preserving Afreximbank as a valuable and strategic asset in Africa, but to realize the shareholders' goal of establishing the bank as a $250 billion financial institution within the next ten years. This will have a significant impact on Africa's energy sector, offering a vital source of financing for a variety of impactful energy projects – from upstream oil and gas to downstream infrastructure to power, technology, trade and development. 'Afreximbank is embarking on a new chapter with the appointment of Dr. Elombi as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. This chapter is expected to be marked by growth and transformation as Dr. Elombi works to realize the goals set out by the Afreximbank shareholders. Afreximbank has a critical role to play in Africa – from financing major projects to supporting regional trade initiatives to coordinating between global and African partners. The AEC commends Dr. Elombi on his appointment and looks forward to working with him to unlock the full potential of Africa's energy resources,' states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. Dr. Elombi will assume the position in September 2025, taking over from Professor Oramah who has held the role since 2015. Under Oramah's leadership, Afreximbank strengthened its institutional and financial capacity through the introduction of innovative financing mechanisms and involvement in multi-faceted projects. Major milestones included the launch of the African Energy Bank in collaboration with the African Petroleum Producers Organization. The bank uniquely mobilizes financing to support investments across Africa's entire energy spectrum in line with the continent's energy needs and environmental sustainability targets. The bank has an initial share capital of $5 billion and is on the precipice of being launched. The bank also increased its portfolio of project and trade financing in Africa, further strengthening its position as a major financier across the continent. By 2026, the bank is on track to double its intra-African trade financing from $20 billion in 2021 to $40 billion in 2026. The funding is expected to support infrastructure development under the broader African Continental Free Trade Agreement. 'Professor Oramah has played an instrumental role in Africa's energy sector, with his relentless pursuit of development unlocking greater benefits for the energy and trade industries. Over the past 10 years, he has not only strengthened Afreximbank's role as an African financier but laid a strong foundation for future growth and development. His legacy is one defined by innovation and vision,' adds Ayuk. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Here's why Africa should develop nuclear energy?
Across the continent, a staggering 600 million people remain without access to electricity, a number that translates into significant energy poverty, particularly in rural Africa, where 70-80 million need to gain access yearly to be on track to meet the 2030 universal access to electricity target. While our continent accounts for 17 percent of the world's population, we generate less than 3 percent of global electricity. This 'power poverty' stifles industrialisation, limits healthcare outcomes, and constrains economic transformation even as Africa exports uranium and other critical minerals to power many parts of the world. Although there is remarkable progress across countries on the continent, the overall pace of progress is slow, requiring an ambitious shift towards nuclear energy, tailored to Africa's unique needs and opportunities. Critics are right to debate questions of safety, malice, accidents, cost and potential harmful effects on the environment. Many argue that investing in renewables is sufficient. Furthermore, the public is unlikely to forget Chernobyl and Fukushima and the constant threat of nuclear war. Yet, South Africa's Koeberg plant has operated safely for 40 years, proving nuclear energy works on the continent. In addition, experts note that nuclear energy has the lowest death rate per kWh of any major energy source, safer than wind and solar when accounting for manufacturing risks. Modern reactors such as Westinghouse's AP1000 have passive safety systems that shut down automatically. With its 25 reactors, South Korea has gone from energy importer to nuclear energy exporter and has a target of providing 30 percent of its electricity while cutting emissions by 2030. Similarly, France generates 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear, achieving Europe's lowest electricity prices and a clean grid. Bangladesh, with GDP per capita -- similar to Kenya's -- is building its first reactor with Russian support, proving nuclear energy can be accessible to developing countries. And there are more encouraging developments closer home. Egypt is constructing four 1,200MW reactors at El Dabaa—a $30 billion bet on nuclear as an industrial catalyst. Ghana has partnered with NuScale Power to explore Small Modular Reactors - SMRs that could power mines and cities simultaneously. Furthermore, countries that fall under the Tier 1 category - Egypt, Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria and Zambia - are starting or expanding their nuclear energy programs. Governments in Niger, Kenya, Tunisia, Morocco, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Namibia, DR Congo, Senegal, Algeria and Zimbabwe are working towards the role of nuclear energy in their future electricity supply systems. Read: Uganda sets 2031 target for nuclear energyThe International Energy Agency estimates that growth in Africa's industry, commerce and agriculture will require electricity demand to grow by 40 percent by 2030. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa assesses that the African Continental Free Trade Area electricity needs will account for 8 percent of the total continental electricity capacity by 2035, and 14percent by 2040, requiring additional investment of $22.4 billion between 2025 and 2040. Furthermore, by 2040, due to rapid population and economic growth in Africa, the electricity supply must expand by more than four times. Furthermore, Africa is facing sectoral transformations due to frontier technologies. Data centres to store big data and power frontier technologies require a significant energy supply. The gradual transition of Africa's transport system to electric vehicles will also increase the demand for electricity generation on the continent. Read: Kenya electric vehicles uptake goes up five-foldAfrica can no longer risk crawling its way out of energy insecurity. As we say in Africa, we can sing and dance at the same time. As we invest in renewable energy resources, we can also advance nuclear energy development. Egypt's El Dabaa will deliver 4,800MW for $6.25 billion. With an over 40-year lifespan, nuclear makes it cost-competitive. But what about the nagging question of nuclear waste? Current innovations are proving that new reactor designs consume nuclear waste as fuel. Waste management systems have also developed to offer safer options for disposal. Countries such as Niger with large deposits of uranium could power reactors for centuries while solving waste challenges. Namibia could achieve energy independence and power the rest of Africa for decades to come – after all, Africa controls 20 percent of global uranium reserves. The path ahead is clear. We must harness nuclear energy's potential and adopt a bold political commitment backed by a clear national roadmap, including target dates for operational plants and long-term capacity-building initiatives. The potential is enormous and could result in creating thousands of skilled jobs and transforming Africa's energy system towards greater energy security. Governments need to tap into the reliability of nuclear power. With a 90 percent capacity factor, plants enjoy up to 45 years of economic life. While large-scale reactors provide stable baseload power, low-hanging fruit should focus on deploying SMRs first (20-300MW) to power mines and industries, before scaling up to gigawatt plants. To address the financing hurdle, which requires high upfront costs (70–85 percent fixed), countries can draw lessons from Africa's 6.4GW renewable energy projects, such as South Africa's procurement programme and global nuclear public-private partnership financing models. Africa's regional power pools, such as the Southern African Power Pool and the upcoming regional electricity market in the East African Power Pool, could amplify investment by pooling demand. The African Single Electricity Market (Vision 2040) aims to integrate continental grids, boosting nuclear power's viability. Creating an African nuclear alliance can pool resources, negotiate better technology transfer deals and training programs and reform energy financing in partnership with Africa's financial institutions to de-risk projects. The African Union and regional blocs must lead this charge to secure Africa's energy future. The time is now to move from potential to action. If done right, Africa could be a leader in this sector. Nuclear energy offers a bright future. But we must act deliberately and have the courage to embrace it. Claver Gatete is Executive Secretary of UN Economic Commission for Africa. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
23-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Promotes Africa-Centric Energy Transition with Dedicated Program Track
The African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place on September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town – is organized under a mandate to make energy poverty history by 2030. As such, the event connects financiers with African projects, promoting energy development across the entire energy sector and its value chain. A dedicated Energy Transition Track at this year's event offers attendees insight into the continent's energy transition strategy, with panel discussions covering a series of topics, from natural gas as a clean cooking fuel to carbon capture and storage solutions to green hydrogen and renewable energy rollout. AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event. With over 900 million people living without access to clean cooking solutions in Africa, many countries are adopting bold strategies to advance the adoption of natural gas products such as LPG. Kenya, for example is rolling out LPG expansion, electric cooking and bioethanol alternatives with support from private sector investment, Tanzania is integrating clean cooking solutions into its national electrification plan and broader energy transition strategy while Ghana has adopted a multi-pronged approach, enhancing LPG affordability and scalability. The AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 Energy Transition Track will feature panel discussions focused on Africa's burgeoning LPG market. Sessions include From Firewood to Freedom: Promoting Clean Cooking in Africa; Monetizing LPG to Enhance the Value of the Barrel in Africa's Inland Markets; and Gas-to-Liquids Market Opportunities in Africa. Given the pressing energy access challenges faced across the continent, Africa has long-advocated for an energy transition strategy that takes into account the continent's energy and climate needs. In this regard, many countries are pursuing a just transition, which utilizes a variety of solutions from low-carbon oil to non-associated gas to renewable energy and integrated power systems. According to the International Energy Agency, meeting Africa's energy demand will require annual investments to more than double by 2030, reaching $240 billion annually. The Energy Transition Track at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 not only offers a platform to discuss Africa's just transition strategy, but lays out strategic investment prospects across the entire energy value chain. Sessions include Just Energy Transition Dialogue: Harnessing Africa's Resource Wealth to Establish Energy Sovereignty; Forging the Path for a Green Hydrogen Economy: Shifting from Planning to Meeting Global Market Demands; and Overcoming Infrastructure Gaps: Innovations in Road, Rail and Transport Connectivity Across Africa. The AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 Energy Transition Track goes beyond promoting investments in energy projects to include strategic sessions on local content, inclusive participation and collaborative leadership. With a rapidly growing population, increased urbanization and soon-to-be the world's largest workforce, Africa requires strategic commitments by governments and companies to accelerate capacity building, skills development and inclusive work practices. By 2050, Africa's population is projected to increase to 2.5 billion people. As such, local content will serve as a catalyst for sustainable and equitable development. During the event, sessions will address these topics, including Energy Security in Africa: Why Women's Participation in Africa's Resource Governance Matters; From Start-Ups to Scale-Ups: Why SMEs are Africa's Game Changers; and Collaborative Leadership: Operator Strategies for Local Content Development. The Energy Transition Track will also feature an Invest in Uganda session, which offers exclusive insight into the country's $10 billion energy portfolio, comprising a mix of hydrocarbon, infrastructure and renewable energy projects. The discussion will unpack how supportive policies, a stable regulatory environment and untapped resources have made the country an attractive market to invest in. Beyond panel discussions, the track will also feature a series of Fireside Chats. These sessions aim to provide insight into the respective investment strategies of various companies, with discussions paving the way for collaborations and deals. 'AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 takes place under a mandate to make energy poverty history, and as such, advocates for a just energy transition which encompasses the development of a variety of energy sources. The Energy Transition Track serves as a catalyst for this goal by uniting players from the renewable energy, natural gas, regulatory and infrastructure sectors to discuss strategies for securing investment and advancing projects in Africa,' states Verner Ayukegba, Senior Vice President, African Energy Chamber. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
16-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Energy Chamber (AEC): It's Time for the World Bank to End the Ban on Upstream Financing and Tackle Africa's Energy Poverty Crisis
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( is calling on the World Bank to end its ban on financing upstream oil and gas projects, urging the institution to align with Africa's urgent need to eradicate energy poverty and achieve sustainable development. Lifting this ban is essential to unlocking the continent's hydrocarbon resources, delivering reliable and affordable electricity to millions, and generating the revenues required to support Africa's long-term energy transition. While the AEC welcomes the World Bank's decision to review its 2017 ban on financing upstream oil and gas development, the time for reassessment is over. Decisive action is needed. Today, around 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity – a number that is not only staggering but growing. The International Energy Agency notes that gains made in expanding electricity access were reversed during the pandemic, with up to 30 million people who previously had access no longer able to afford it. This deepening energy poverty undermines Africa's industrialization, economic growth and social development. The AEC maintains that Africa must be empowered to grow its energy mix pragmatically, using both fossil fuels and renewables – not forced into an 'all or nothing' approach that risks leaving hundreds of millions in the dark. Natural gas offers a scalable, affordable and lower-carbon solution that can help meet the continent's immediate power needs while enabling a just, inclusive energy transition. Yet climate panic and fearmongering – often directed disproportionately at Africa, a continent responsible for just 3% of global CO₂ emissions – threaten to block this path. 'The green agenda and the World Bank's ban on upstream financing ignore the fact that natural gas can bring life-changing prosperity to Africa through jobs, business growth and monetization,' said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. 'We are proposing a logical, sustainable path: using our natural gas to meet current needs, generate revenue and fund our transition to renewables. Given that universal access to affordable, reliable electricity is one of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, the growing number of Africans without power is morally wrong and must not be ignored.' Upstream oil and gas development is already demonstrating its capacity to advance energy access. In Mozambique, domestic gas fuels the 450 MW Temane gas-to-power project, delivering electricity to communities and industries. Senegal's gas-to-power efforts, Nigeria's Gas Master Plan and Egypt's expanded gas-fired generation highlight how these resources are driving regional electrification and economic growth. Future upstream projects hold transformative potential: Mozambique's gas reserves could generate over $100 billion in revenue; Namibia's oil discoveries could deliver $3.5 billion annually at peak production, which can fund infrastructure, education, healthcare and clean energy investments. Meanwhile, global financial trends are shifting. Major banks, particularly in the U.S., are easing ESG-related restrictions and resuming oil and gas financing, recognizing that natural gas remains a vital bridge fuel. The World Bank must do the same – not as a concession, but as a commitment to its mandate to promote shared prosperity and reduce poverty. The AEC urges the World Bank to turn its policy review into meaningful action. Supporting upstream oil and gas development is not only an economic necessity – it is a moral imperative if we are serious about ending energy poverty and enabling a sustainable, equitable future for Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
