Future of Energy Conference: Africa must power production, not just consumption – Policy leaders
African countries must move beyond expanding electricity access for household consumption and focus on using energy as a catalyst for industrialisation, value addition and economic transformation, policy leaders at the Future of Energy Conference 2026 have said. While African economies continue to pursue ambitious targets for universal electricity access, the experts argue that access alone […]
The Future of Energy Conference 2026 has emphasized that African countries must shift their focus from merely expanding electricity access for household use to utilizing energy as a driver for industrialization, value addition, and economic transformation. Experts argue that access to electricity alone will not achieve meaningful economic progress unless energy systems are purposefully engineered to support productive industries.
Ghana, with an 89% electricity access rate, aims to achieve universal access by 2030. At the conference organized by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), experts stressed the necessity of aligning energy strategies with broader industrial and economic development priorities. Dr Marit Kitaw, an Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), asserted that a just minerals transition necessitates a corresponding just energy transition.
She advocated for Africa to fundamentally rethink its approach to energy planning and deployment, moving from a consumption-driven model towards one that supports production.
Dr Kitaw's sentiments were echoed by Ghana's Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who called for a move away from exporting raw materials towards high-value production within Africa. He cautioned against replacing fossil fuel exports with raw mineral exports under the guise of transformation. Forson stressed that Africa must industrialize as a cohesive market, leveraging its large market potential rather than treating its 54 economies as isolated markets.
He argued that the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers a vast reach but transforming it into effective trade requires more than agreements; it requires producing what Africa trades in.
Dr Kitaw highlighted that the AfCFTA presents an opportunity to turn fragmented national markets into a single market of approximately 1.4 billion people. She emphasized that stronger regional energy cooperation could establish the groundwork for industrial growth by enhancing reliability, reducing costs, and optimizing the use of energy resources.
According to Dr Kitaw, Africa's energy strategies should be intricately linked to mineral development plans, industrial policies, trade frameworks, infrastructure corridors, and human capital development. The call for action comes as African nations strive to harness their abundant mineral resources, enhance energy systems, and capitalize on the AfCFTA to expedite industrialization, generate employment, and retain more economic value from their natural resources.
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