Unearthing the Reality of “Zombie Energy Systems” in Africa’s Energy Transition

The paper defines Zombie Energy Systems (ZES) as outdated, inefficient, and environmentally harmful energy assets that persist in Africa despite being obsolete. It argues that the current international focus on new renewable energy projects overlooks the necessity of decommissioning or rehabilitating these failing systems, which include ageing power plants, inefficient grids, and second-hand appliances. The authors trace the origins of ZES to colonial legacies, poor maintenance, and political corruption, and propose a holistic strategy involving comprehensive system assessments, regulatory strengthening, and local capacity building to ensure a just and effective energy transition.

• Zombie Energy Systems (ZES) are defined as "outdated, inefficient, and environmentally harmful energy systems that persist despite being obsolete", encompassing both supply-side assets like ageing power plants and demand-side assets like inefficient domestic appliances.
• International development efforts often prioritize "new and shiny" renewable energy projects, such as solar PV mini grids, which can lead to the neglect of the more complex and expensive task of rehabilitating or repurposing existing ZES.
• Colonial-era infrastructure was often designed for resource extraction rather than domestic development, creating a long-term misalignment of priorities. An example is the Kariba Dam, built in the late 1950s, which has deteriorated due to a lack of resources and technical expertise.
• Inefficiencies in power transmission are widespread across Africa; only Botswana, Lesotho, and Mauritius maintain transmission and distribution (T&D) losses of 10% or less, while losses in the Central African Republic reach approximately 48%.
• Africa's demand side is characterized by a high prevalence of inefficient second-hand appliances and vehicles imported from Europe, Asia, and North America. In Ghana, approximately 75% of the 3.7 million refrigerators imported between 2004 and 2014 were second-hand.
• Political corruption and vested financial interests contribute to the persistence of ZES. In Nigeria, the authors suggest a "strong mafia" may protect the market for mobile electric power generators (EPGs) to frustrate efforts to revamp the national grid.
• Economic barriers significantly hinder the transition to cleaner transport; the average price of an entry-level 4-wheeler EV in Africa exceeds $25,000, which is far above the continent's per capita GDP of $2,955.
• The authors recommend a comprehensive approach to eradicate ZES, including conducting detailed assessments of existing assets, strengthening independent regulatory bodies to reduce non-technical losses, and investing in local workforce training.

APA

Dioha, M. O., Abraham-Dukuma, M. C., & Dato, P. (2025). Unearthing the Reality of “Zombie Energy Systems” in Africa’s Energy Transition. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/resource/unearthing-reality-zombie-energy-systems-africas-energy-transition/

Chicago

Dioha, Michael O., Magnus C. Abraham-Dukuma, and Prudence Dato. Unearthing the Reality of “Zombie Energy Systems” in Africa’s Energy Transition. Clean Air Task Force, 2025. https://www.catf.us/resource/unearthing-reality-zombie-energy-systems-africas-energy-transition/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dioha |first1=Michael O. |last2=Abraham-Dukuma |first2=Magnus C. |last3=Dato |first3=Prudence |title=Unearthing the Reality of “Zombie Energy Systems” in Africa’s Energy Transition |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=30 January 2025 |url=https://www.catf.us/resource/unearthing-reality-zombie-energy-systems-africas-energy-transition/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dioha2025unearthing, author = {Dioha, Michael O. and Abraham-Dukuma, Magnus C. and Dato, Prudence}, title = {{Unearthing the Reality of “Zombie Energy Systems” in Africa’s Energy Transition}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://www.catf.us/resource/unearthing-reality-zombie-energy-systems-africas-energy-transition/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }