The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has raised concerns over the worsening electricity access crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as over 83% of the region’s population now lacks electricity, a sharp increase from 50% in 2010.
Speaking at the ongoing 6th International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition (IOREC) in Gaborone, IRENA’s Director-General, Francesco La Camera, emphasized the urgent need to accelerate efforts in bridging the energy gap. “At the current pace, millions will remain without electricity by 2030. In Southern Africa alone, there is still about a 40% electricity access deficit. This is unacceptable in a world with the technological and financial means to bridge this gap,” he stated.
In Nigeria, energy poverty remains a critical challenge. Despite heavy borrowing to finance electrification projects, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) recently disclosed that over 20,000 communities nationwide still lack electricity. Unreliable grid supply and inadequate investment in off-grid solutions continue to impact rural communities, forcing many to rely on costly and polluting alternatives such as generators and firewood.
IRENA’s latest report highlights that while global off-grid renewable capacity has doubled since 2014—reaching 12.9 gigawatts (GW) in 2023—progress has stagnated in recent years. Off-grid renewable solutions have provided electricity to 155 million people worldwide, yet SSA now accounts for 83% of the global electricity access deficit.
With a strong emphasis on off-grid renewables as a sustainable solution, La Camera stressed the need to move beyond household electrification and focus on productive sectors, including agriculture and healthcare. “Innovative off-grid solutions can power rural hospitals, schools, and businesses, transforming entire communities. The challenge is mobilizing financing and scaling up deployment at a faster pace,” he said.
Currently, 30% of the world’s energy consumption occurs within agri-food value chains, primarily sourced from fossil fuels. Additionally, nearly 1 billion people rely on health facilities that lack a reliable power supply, with 64% of healthcare centers in low-income countries operating without steady electricity.
To address these challenges, IRENA is promoting the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA), a coalition of nine African nations working to mobilize finance and build technical capacity for renewable energy deployment.
As global leaders, policymakers, and energy experts convene at IOREC, the call for urgent action grows louder, highlighting the need for coordinated policies and increased investment to close Africa’s energy access gap.
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