The African Union Commission has announced the launch of the African Energy Transition Strategy and Action Plan, a continental roadmap to advance a just and inclusive energy transition.
The strategy emphasises clean cooking, cross-border energy trading, energy efficiency, innovation, and capacity development, setting the foundation for multi-billion-dollar investments across African countries, according to a statement the pan African bloc seen by APA on Tuesday.
The strategy was launched at the African Energy Efficiency Conference (AfEEC) that was concluded over late last week following the adoption of a communique requiring a collective commitment of AU member states to advancing energy efficiency initiatives across the electricity, industry, buildings, transport, agriculture and household appliances sub-sectors.
The conference highlighted that Africa’s target set out in the AfEES to increase the continent’s energy productivity by 50 percent by 2050 and 70 percent by 2063 as part of the global pledge to double energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
Speaking at the event, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasised the deep energy paradox for resource-rich Africa, where 600 million people lack electricity and 900 million still rely on biomass.
Energy efficiency is Africa’s first line of defense against energy poverty, capable of boosting productivity and cutting energy costs, Youssouf said, calling for urgent action to overcome the triple dilemma of energy security, affordability, and regional connectivity.
“Every kilowatt-hour wasted is a school not electrified, a vaccine not safely stored, a business not powered, or a job not created. Energy efficiency is an economic shield, an environmental safeguard, and a strategic pathway to securing Africa’s energy future,” said Chairperson Youssouf.
The chairperson further underscored a unified political will to build a reliable, interconnected, and future-ready energy system for all Africans.
In February, at the 38th Assembly of the African Union, African heads of state and government officially adopted the African Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan. The framework sets a target of raising Africa’s energy productivity by 50 percent by 2050 and 70 percent by 2063.
MG/as/APA