Africa is rich in solar energy but starved of investment. The continent holds 60 percent of the world’s solar potential, yet attracts less than 3 percent of global energy financing, a statement from the UN Economic Commission for Africa said on Wednesday.
Over 600 million people across Africa still lack access to electricity, even as demand for power surges with rapid population growth, urban expansion, and industrial ambition. While the world talks of energy transitions, much of Africa remains stuck in energy deprivation.
Children in many rural communities across Africa still study by candlelight or kerosene lamps, exposing themselves to toxic fumes and limiting learning hours. Health clinics operate without reliable power, and livelihoods are constrained by patchy or non-existent electricity. Energy poverty remains a major brake on development across the continent.
“We need a new deal on energy finance, one that supports innovation, strengthens grids, and builds clean energy industries that work for both people and planet,” Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), was quoted as saying, speaking at the High-Level political Forum (HLPF) in New York on Tuesday.
The ECA Chief described Africa as a “paradox of potential and neglect,” home to abundant resources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy, but still largely bypassed by international investment.
“Africa isn’t just asking for help, it’s offering answers,” Gatete said. “Energy isn’t just a public good. It’s a driver of jobs, industry, and transformation.”
He urged global partners to support the development of regional power pools, localized manufacturing of clean energy technologies, and regulatory reforms that unlock private investment.
MG/abj/APA