• At the current pace of electrification amid rising population, the number of people without electricity in Africa will remain unchanged unless bold action is rolled out.
• In response to this urgent need, the AfDB Group, the World Bank, and other partners have launched Mission 300, a plan that aims to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
• The plan focuses on accelerating electrification through a mix of grid extensions and distributed renewable energy solutions, such as mini-grids and stand-alone solar home systems.

Across Africa, the sunlight shines bright and natural resources abound. Yet despite that lies a pressing issue that threatens to stifle the continent’s growth and prosperity: the lack of access to reliable and sustainable electricity. As we prepare for the Africa Energy Summit, taking place on January 27-28, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the urgency of addressing Africa’s energy needs cannot be overstated.

Without …

Site: https://theexchange.africa/

The NFT marketplace ecosystem has grown over the years and now offers a wide range of platforms suited to various user needs.

The top three online NFT platforms – Magic Eden, OpenSea, and Blur – stand out with their unique features, large user bases, and long list of tradable digital assets.

Read on to discover a comprehensive comparison of Magic Eden, OpenSea, and Blur to learn more about the three market-leading NFT marketplaces, and to find out which one’s right for you.

Magic Eden

Magic Eden is a leading NFT marketplace initially built on the Solana blockchain that has since expanded to support Ethereum and 10+ other blockchains.

The platform features a user-friendly interface with low transaction fees and differentiates itself from its peers through its multi-chain approach and community-centric features for both creators and collectors.

Key Features

• Blockchain support: Supports 10+ blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and

• Decentralized power generation—typically based on solar home systems and mini-grids—is the best bet to eradicate energy poverty among people in more isolated rural areas.
• By decentralizing power generation, Africa can secure a sustainable energy future and improve the lives of millions of people.
• Standalone power systems or localized power networks (otherwise known as “mini-grids”) have become efficient means of power that utilize solar in combination with battery storage and backup generators.

Think about a time when your electricity went out. As you sat in the dark, maybe you wondered how long it would be before you could power up your computer again. Or perhaps you considered what you could make for dinner that didn’t require cooking.

Many people in Africa don’t need to imagine such a scenario — they live it. Every day.

A large portion of the continent, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, lacks access to reliable and affordable electricity. …

• To vastly increase the number of gazelles—and by extension, the likelihood of unicorns—stakeholders must work together to overcome existing barriers.
• Under ideal circumstances, gazelles—fast-growing companies essential for economic growth and employment—can mature into unicorns.
• To get unicorns, however, the key lies in cultivating gazelles first. Across Africa, there is a clear need to focus on the imperatives that can drive this transformation.

Gazelles. Camels. Elephants. In the language of venture capital, we have a full menagerie to describe a startup’s growth progression. However, in the past decade, the ultimate aspiration remains the unicorn: privately held companies valued at over $1 billion.

Globally, there are approximately 1,200 unicorns across various industries, and while Africa’s list is smaller, it is growing. As of February 2023, the seven identified African unicorns predominantly operate in the fintech and digital sectors, addressing payment challenges across the continent.

For many startups in Africa, achieving unicorn status …

• Majority of 2024’s capex was driven by established producers like Angola and Nigeria.
• Senegal is an example of how operator-friendly policies, political stability, and vast reserves can attract foreign investment.
• Africa holds nearly 18 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, which will prove essential for a just energy transition.

I’ve said for years that African energy is a vital investment. Backers clearly agree — to the tune of $47 billion. That’s how much capital expenditure (capex) 2024 saw in African oil and gas, showing a 23 per cent increase from last year. Better yet, we expect growth to continue through the end of the decade.

This capex activity is a welcome sign that energy majors are deepening their long-term interests in Africa. And as our 2025 State of African Energy report details, their momentum has created unique opportunities for local communities, indigenous companies, and national oil companies (NOCs) from …

• Transition finance is funding dedicated to decarbonizing hard-to-abate and emissions-intensive sectors, such as steel and cement manufacturing.
• Companies in these sectors must prepare for an orderly transition, as failure to act will bring immense risk in a decarbonizing world economy.
• Nurturing a thriving transition finance market is critical to mitigating systemic economic and financial risks.

The transition finance market provides a unique opportunity for Africa to leapfrog to low-carbon technologies and business models, which will address climate risks and enhance the continent’s global competitiveness.

Though lacking a universal definition, transition finance refers to funding dedicated to decarbonizing hard-to-abate and emissions-intensive sectors, such as steel and cement manufacturing.

It is key to overcoming financial barriers to sustainability in the industries essential for economic development yet major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Companies in these sectors must prepare for an orderly transition, as failure to act will bring immense risk in a …