Africa can boost energy access while taking climate action

Kiambere -Embakasi highway voltage transmission powerline supported by temporary cable suspender structures where four pylons collapsed before the construction of new electricity pylons near railway station line imara daima. in picture on the right is a temporary cable suspender structure connecting to other pylons awaiting replacement on wednesday Jan 26th 2022. [David Gichuru,Standard] African nations and development partners launched a bold initiative to support the continent's sustainable economic development at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, recently. The summit aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030 - a response to the staggering 600 million Africans still without access to modern energy. Twelve countries have supported the initiative by presenting their National Energy Compacts, which seek to increase energy access by making affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy more accessible. These compacts seek to promote investment by expanding transmission and distribution networks, increasing generation capacity through renewable sources, and integrating natural gas strategically where applicable. While Mission 300 is a bold and necessary step to connect 300 million people to electricity, it's worthwhile noting some inherent challenges. First, the oft-cited figure of 600 million people lacking electricity access needs further unpacking. More than half of those without access live in just three countries: Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo-a combined landmass of nearly 4 million km2, or close to a third of the continent. Most of these people live in rural areas, which means reaching them will require innovation, targeted social spending, and development approaches that integrate energy access with broader social imperatives such as health and education. Second, the issue of household affordability must be addressed. While Africa is often advised to remain technology agnostic in the pursuit of universal energy access, the reality is that the African consumer is highly price-sensitive. In the clean cooking sector, for instance, we've seen how users shifted to cheaper fuel options when subsidies were removed. Energy compacts must therefore consider the final cost of electricity to consumers, not just the availability of infrastructure. A key affordability factor lies in how electricity generation is structured and financed. Take-or-pay contracts, policy inefficiencies, and perceived risks-despite historically low default rates-often drive up costs for both utilities and end users. High connection fees also remain a major barrier. Access to grid infrastructure does not automatically mean people are connected. There's a difference between having electricity available near a community and ensuring that households can afford and use it. This distinction is critical for ensuring meaningful, not just statistical, progress on energy access. In this context, cross-subsidisation by large off-takers-such as industrial and commercial users-can help create more commercially viable opportunities. These models can balance the social imperative of expanding access with the commercial need for sustainability. At the Tanzania summit, the role of gas was raised, with the CEO of TotalEnergies advocating for gas as a solution to the intermittency of renewables, and for LPG in clean cooking. These views were not unexpected-after all, it would be unusual for a purveyor of oranges to champion the virtues of mangoes. Still, the continent's energy potential is diverse. Alternatives like geothermal, hydro, and the use of regional power pools to leverage timezone peak differences deserve more attention. The limited advantage in electricity access among fossil fuel-producing countries shows that oil and gas infrastructure has not consistently improved domestic access. To move forward, African countries must focus on addressing infrastructure gaps and service delivery barriers, while using investments in methane abatement to support broader energy goals. Notably, six of the 12 countries that submitted Energy Compacts are oil and gas producers. Among them, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Nigeria have relatively high electricity access, while Niger, Chad, and the DRC remain at the bottom. The former group is leveraging existing infrastructure and financial systems to support renewable energy transitions. The latter are navigating how to expand access while pursuing long-term clean energy goals. Africa has an opportunity to address two urgent challenges simultaneously: Expanding energy access and reducing methane emissions. Methane abatement presents a tangible economic opportunity. Revenue from the sale of captured methane from oil and gas operations can support the growth of green technology and offset the costs of implementing methane capture solutions. But there's a risk. As the continent increases its production and use of gas as a transition fuel, methane emissions may rise if no proactive measures are taken. Now is the time for action to avoid future environmental and economic costs. According to the Climate Policy Initiative, the oil and gas sector needs $11.2 billion per year for methane abatement, yet currently receives less than 1 per cent of tracked climate finance for this purpose. Targeted financial mechanisms-such as grants, preferential financing, and incentives-can help companies overcome barriers and scale up their efforts. As African nations prepare to submit their third round of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, they must balance the goals of expanding energy access and reducing emissions. Managing methane from energy infrastructure should be a priority in that balancing act. Despite contributing a relatively small share to global emissions, Africa is among the most vulnerable regions to climate change. The consequences-biodiversity loss, water stress, reduced food production, and over a million premature deaths annually-have deepened existing development challenges. These impacts threaten the continent's ability to meet the goals of Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement. Yet, the opportunity for action is clear. The International Energy Agency estimates that a 75 per cent reduction in methane emissions from fossil fuels is possible by 2030, using existing technology and at relatively low cost.

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