Harnessing Africa’s Resource Wealth: Fueling Innovation for Equitable Energy Access
The discourse on a just transition the African way assumes paramount importance, ensuring that no one is left behind in the shift towards cleaner energy sources. The potential disruption to livelihoods in traditional energy sectors including those in the local biomass energy value chain underscores the need for equitable and inclusive transition strategies that prioritize the welfare of vulnerable communities and individuals. For instance, an estimated 120,000 jobs are at risk of being lost in South Africa’s coal heartland of Mpumalanga by 2030 due to the energy transition. Considering that nearly one in three young people is expected to reside in Africa by 2050, harnessing the potential of Africa’s youth, women, and businesses is essential for driving innovation and building resilience in the face of evolving energy landscapes. That is, despite the estimated job losses, the energy transition is projected to provide enormous economic opportunities for both labor and businesses. With the operationalization of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, the energy transition can be a panacea to Africa’s industrialization agenda, alleviate energy poverty, and drive economic transformation.
In this nuanced context, the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), in collaboration with its partners, organizes the Future of Energy Conference 2024 to critically examine alternative strategic approaches Africa can adopt to harness the inherent opportunities of energy transition on the thrust of its existing resources.
The main objective of the Future of Energy Conference is to examine Africa’s energy needs and the range of resources and technologies that can sustainably reduce energy poverty and advance industrial growth. The Conference presents a timely platform for stakeholders to converge, dialogue, and chart a course towards an inclusive and sustainable energy future for Africa. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange, the Conference aims to catalyze actionable solutions and forge cross-border partnerships that propel Africa towards the future we want.
The main objective of the Future of Energy Conference is to examine Africa’s energy needs and the range of resources and technologies that can sustainably reduce energy poverty and advance industrial growth. The Conference presents a timely platform for stakeholders to converge, dialogue, and chart a course towards an inclusive and sustainable energy future for Africa. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange, the Conference aims to catalyze actionable solutions and forge cross-border partnerships that propel Africa towards the future we want.
The main objective of the Future of Energy Conference is to examine Africa’s energy needs and the range of resources and technologies that can sustainably reduce energy poverty and advance industrial growth. The Conference presents a timely platform for stakeholders to converge, dialogue, and chart a course towards an inclusive and sustainable energy future for Africa. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange, the Conference aims to catalyze actionable solutions and forge cross-border partnerships that propel Africa towards the future we want.
