Browsing: IRENA

renewable energy fossil fuel Africa

As oil booms, is Africa ready for renewable energy revolution?

Industry and Trade
  • Africa stands at crossroads, balancing harnessing of its vast fossil fuel resources against a global call to embrace renewable energy.
  • Across the continent, the deployment of renewable technologies is not happening as fast as needed to reach 2030 targets.
  • Innovation and policy resets to drive renewable energy transition in Africa are needed in the face of new oil finds.

The drive to embrace green energy in African economies poses a challenging dilemma: invest in emerging technologies or stick with the tried-and-tested approach of tapping into lucrative oil and gas reserves. Consider Tanzania, for example. Late last year, the country reaffirmed its commitment to oil exploration by announcing plans to further collaborate with Saudi Arabia to bolster its nascent energy sector in the wake of massive gas find.

During a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024, Tanzania Deputy Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga, noted that the East African …

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Renewable energy: a boon to Africa’s jobless?

Industry and Trade

The expansion of Africa’s economy—exemplified by East Africa’s vibrant economies(Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda) by adopting the manufacturing industry landscape and marrying it with high-end technological developments have both triggered a demand for more power,currently leaning towards renewable energy—all the while grappling with the challenge of high unemployment rates.

The United Nations 25thConference of Parties (COP 25) on climate change highlighted strictly on nations mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by adapting to renewable energy in their economies.

Morocco and Zambia are now embracing the adoption of wind and solar power with assistance from Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

GCF and AfDB supported Zambia with a $154 million renewable energy fund to finance its framework, and lift the nation from electricity demand challenges, as the country relies on hydropower generation for 90 per cent of its needs.

Renewable energy in Africa could be a mighty saving…

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