Towards Ensuring Energy Security in Africa: A Proposal of Technologies and Policies

Energy security is the ability of a region to affordably access sufficient energy, and to utilize such energy for its growth, well-being, and overall economic development. Africa is a continent rich in both renewable and non-renewable energy resources. An irony lies in the fact that Africa’s access to energy is nearly insignificant when compared to developed parts of the world. Africa has tremendous energy resources at its disposal, however, the technological, socio-economic, and policy-oriented systems required to fully harness these resources have eluded the continent for years. This paper offers insights on how the gap can be bridged – moving Africa from being merely a depository of energy resources, to a continent that harnesses its natural energy endowments towards improving the well-being of its people. The paper begins by providing an introduction to the current state of Africa’s energy sector. It then goes further to discuss the challenges militating against energy security in Africa. Most importantly, it provides insights into the technical, socio-economic and policy-oriented approaches and strategies that can be taken to turn Africa into an energy-secure continent. The paper concludes by summarizing the actionable steps that can be taken to achieve a sustainable energy future for the African continent.