Lusaka, Zambia—The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has unveiled a landmark project aimed at accelerating energy access across the eastern and southern African regions. The Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation initiative was launched on Tuesday, targeting the provision of new electricity connections to 100 million people over the next seven years.
The initiative focuses on expanding both grid and off-grid electricity connections, promoting renewable energy solutions, and advancing clean cooking technologies and fuels. During the launch in Lusaka, COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe highlighted the substantial investment required to address the continent’s energy challenges. She cited the African Development Bank’s projection, which estimates that approximately 35 billion U.S. dollars are needed to achieve universal energy access in Africa by 2030.
“This is a major stumbling block that needs to be addressed through creative interventions such as this project,” Kapwepwe stated. She noted that around 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to electricity, with rural populations being the most affected. Millions of Africans continue to rely on traditional energy sources like biomass, kerosene, and diesel for cooking, lighting, and heating.
The project has earmarked 5 billion dollars from the International Development Association and aims to leverage an additional 10 billion dollars from other partners for investment in grid and distributed renewable energy.
Boutheina Guermazi, the World Bank director of regional integration for sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa, described the project as a flagship initiative and a game changer designed to help countries provide electricity to their citizens. Ensuring access to reliable and affordable energy for all is a key element of the bank’s regional strategy for Africa.
“Many of the participating countries have demonstrated unprecedented results over the past decade and are at a critical juncture in their efforts to ensure electricity access and sustainable economic development for all their citizens,” Guermazi said. She emphasised the need for collaborative solutions to aid rural communities that lack electricity access.
Zambian Minister of Energy Peter Kapala remarked that the project aligns with the Zambian government’s goals of improving citizens’ livelihoods through increased access to sustainable energy and energy services.
“This energy access challenge is further exacerbated by the huge disproportions in the financial requirements needed for innovations and collaboration among the various actors in the energy sector,” Kapala noted, adding that the importance of access to sustainable energy in Zambia and the region cannot be overstated.
The Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation initiative represents a significant step towards addressing Africa’s energy deficit and fostering sustainable development in the region.
