The Future of Africa’s Electrification

Charly Gatete ()
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Charly Gatete: African School Regulation (ASR), ACBF Regional Office, West & Central Africa

A chapter in Political Economy of Electricity Access in Africa, 2026, pp 351-394 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter provides the outlook for Africa’s energy future. After a cursory review of literature, few insights emerge. First, business as usual is not sufficient—without dramatically scaling up efforts, Africa will not achieve universal electrification for many decades, undermining human development and economic growth. Second, a multi-pronged strategy is essential: large-scale grid expansion and regional integration must go hand in hand with decentralised solutions to reach all communities. Third, the future of Africa’s electrification can be sustainable and climate-friendly if the continent’s vast renewable resources are harnessed and if the global community supports Africa’s green energy transition (while allowing pragmatic use of transitional fuels where needed). Fourth, achieving energy access for all is fundamentally a question of political will, good governance, and justice. In a nutshell, the chapter concludes that universal access requires structural initiatives, multi stakeholder engagement, government and policy reforms and a holistic approach.

Keywords: Africa’s energy landscape; Energy outlook; Resilient systems; Energy innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:aaechp:978-3-032-20844-6_15

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-20844-6_15

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