Africa’s population is expected to soar in the next few decades, so getting more energy to the continent’s inhabitants is imperative. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that for sub-Saharan Africa to achieve universal energy access by 2030, it would have to invest more than $100bn a year in the energy sector, which is five times the current level.
In addition, there are places with abundant energy, but we are not connecting it to the people who need it, she says. “Making the market work for more people for many decades is going to be a challenge.
“There’s plenty of scope for renewables, gas, responsible oil and hydrogen fuels. We require responsible gas, but not just any form of gas development,” said Wilkinson.
“Gas remains a cleaner bridge, but in the long term it needs to improve its performance. This is an opportunity for all of us to move forward faster and further together.”
She went on to say that the WEC has developed the Energy Trilemma Index which tracks the energy transition progress of 128 countries based on three criteria – energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability. South Africa ranks a dismal 92nd and while its tiny neighbour, eSwatini, was ranked 101 in the latest index, it is “one of the biggest movers in energy transition".
Meanwhile, the WEC proposes three plausible pathways to 2040, namely:
“None of these scenarios will, however meet the 2° Paris Accord commitment,” Wilkinson says.