Nearly 600 million Africans still cut from global power grid

The distribution of electricity in many African nations is still a major problem.

As of January 2025, the United Nations reported that around 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. The outfit further explains that this figure accounts for 80 % of the global electricity access gap.

While countries in Northern Africa, along with nations like Ghana, Gabon, and South Africa, have made progress in improving electricity access, significant challenges persist in Central Africa and the Sahel regions. For instance, Burundi and South Sudan continue to have some of the lowest levels of electricity access, according to 2022 data.

In an ironic turn of events, Africa leads the world in terms of renewable energy share. The region boasts 55.5% of the global share.

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas continue to play a vital role in many African economies.

UN projects that the underutilisation of these resources will slow down economies and continually plunge the region into extreme darkness.

With the African Development Bank's Desert to Power Initiative, there seems to be hope for the over 500 million Africans alienated from the power grid.

This flagship renewable energy programme led by the African Development Bank (AfDB) aims to transform countries in the Sahel region including Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti and Eritrea into a renewable energy powerhouse by harnessing the region’s abundant solar energy potential.

Additionally, the initiative forecasts generating up to 10 GW of solar power by 2030. It will also provide electricity to around 250 million people, with at least 90 million benefiting from off-grid solutions.

Source: globalsouthworld.com