5 African countries that are making strides in energy transition

The World Economic Forum (WEF) report released in June tracked the overall performance of 120 countries and concluded with results indicating that the African continent had the highest number of double-digit performance in energy transition.

The World Economic Forum uses the Energy Transition Index (ETI) framework to analyse the performance of each country to streamline policy-making.

More importantly, five African countries topped the continent and managed to hold respectable global spots on the ETI ranking table.

Kenya

Kenya topped the chart as far as African countries are concerned while making it to 46th position globally. With an ETI performance of 57.8, Kenya emerged as one of the “top improvers between 2022 and 2023,” from a previous record of performing behind the global average. The report further described Kenya as having demonstrated strong momentum in its renewable energy transition in the region with its investment in solar energy projects amongst others. As a pioneer in renewable energy in East Africa, Kenya has persisted in the use of geothermal energy with the establishment of the largest thermal plant in Africa, the Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant, The Africa Sustainable Trade reports.

Morocco

Morocco is ranked 56th on the ETI ranking table with a global score of 55.6. The country managed to meet its renewable energy objective amidst unfavourable economic conditions. The Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali said, “In 2021, a 10 billion cubic metre natural gas pipeline between Africa and Europe shut down, cutting Morocco off. The country could have gone down an irreversible path of retooling the energy system with fossil fuels. Instead, it joined the world at COP26 in resolutions to move beyond coal. Though Morocco was still recovering from the economic shockwaves of COVID-19, it turned this challenge into an opportunity by putting in place a roadmap for energy security, including fast-tracking sustainable access to the international LNG market to “power past coal,” decarbonizing industries and addressing the intermittency of renewables.” In 2050, Morocco aims to become a global hub for green hydrogen production, according to The African Sustainable Trade.

Namibia

Namibia emerged 58th on the table with a global score of 55.1. The country hosts the largest desalination plant in southern Africa. The country reported a phased implementation of renewable energy projects from 2004 through to 2023, with the aim of creating an energy-conscious culture. Some of these projects included the Concentrated Solar Power Technology Transfer for Power Generation in Namibia from 2014 – 2017, and Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliance (EELA). Namibia’s president recently signed a $10 billion green hydrogen deal with development partners in a bid to ensure global compliance with renewable energy, VOA news reported.

Mauritius

Mauritius ranked 60th globally with a 55% ETI score. The country launched a phased implementation of a renewable energy roadmap in 2019 with an overall target of achieving 35% renewable energy by 2025. This target was reviewed to 60% by the end of 2030 coupled with an arrangement to phase out products like coal in electricity generation.

Cote D’Ivoire

With a global score of 53.1%, Cote d’Ivoire is ranked 75th on the global ETI table. The International Trade Administration reported that “As of 2021, Côte d’Ivoire had an installed capacity of 2,269 MW, with roughly 61 percent (1,390 MW) generated by thermal and the remaining 39 percent (879 MW) generated by hydroelectric dams.”

The country further boasts of a National Development Plan which seeks to expand “national electrification coverage, reaching the maximum of the population.”

The ETI scores measure a country’s current energy system, but not how fast they are transitioning. Generally, sub-Saharan Africa recorded an energy transition growth of 11% which is described as the most promising.

“Sub-Saharan Africa’s energy transition growth of 11% has been one of the most promising in the last decade, and it is the strongest performer of all groups on the sustainable dimension... Sub-Saharan Africa showed the maximum gain of 18% on scores on the equitable dimension in the past decade, but recent trends show a slowdown, about which the region should be cautious,” the report read in part.