The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has called on African governments to implement policies that attract investments in renewable energy, emphasizing the urgent need to bridge the continent’s energy access gap.
Speaking with DA News at the ongoing COP29 in Baku, the Director General of ISA, Dr. Ajay Mathur, stressed that financing renewable energy projects should be a strategic priority for transitioning to green energy economies.
“Investment in renewable energy can bridge Africa’s energy access challenges and pave the way for achieving green energy,” Dr. Mathur said.
He noted that governments must ensure funds are accessible for citizens to acquire solar technology, which would increase clean energy usage.
Dr. Mathur urged governments to make solar energy widely available before considering the removal of electricity subsidies.
“Before removing subsidy from electricity, governments must provide avenues for people to acquire solar energy systems,” he advised.
Despite Africa’s abundant sunlight covering 60% of its countries and its wealth of rare earth deposits, solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption remains at a dismal 1%. Dr. Mathur described this as a “humongous waste of potential.”
He highlighted the role of private-sector partnerships in solving Africa’s energy crisis.
“Governments can engage private organizations to invest in solar energy, thereby reducing the burden on the public sector and increasing access to clean energy for the people,” he said.
Dr. Barakat Ahmed, ISA Regional Programmes Head for Africa, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that Africa faces the greatest challenges in transitioning to green energy due to financing and investment barriers.
“Finance, funding innovation, and attracting investments remain significant hurdles for many African governments,” Dr. Ahmed said.
He called on leaders to establish enabling policies that would attract private-sector investment in renewable energy.
Dr. Ahmed cited Kenya as a model for energy access, urging other African nations to emulate its policies to ensure citizens have greater access to renewable energy solutions.
The ISA leaders reaffirmed their commitment to partnering with African governments to promote investment in renewable energy and reduce the region’s dependence on fossil fuels.
They stressed that with the right policies and collaboration, Africa could harness its vast solar potential to achieve sustainable energy access.
By Dare Akogun
