Africa in Fact

The report highlights that 600 million Africans lack electricity, with sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected. It argues that while legacy megaprojects like the Inga 3 dam and Stiegler's Gorge are financially and environmentally risky, decentralized renewable energy (DREs) and public-private partnerships offer more sustainable paths to electrification. The text also examines the geopolitical influence of Russia's nuclear diplomacy and China's investment in coal-fired plants, while noting the severe health impacts of biomass reliance among the rural poor.

• Africa faces a critical energy deficit, with 600 million people lacking electricity, representing 75% of the global total of people without power.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that Africa will likely fail to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 7 by 2030 unless there is significant improvement in policy and investment, estimating a need for $120 billion in annual investment.
• Reliance on biomass for cooking and heating causes severe health issues, with indoor air pollution from charcoal and firewood killing 600,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa annually.
• Russia is aggressively promoting nuclear energy in Africa through its state-owned conglomerate Rosatom, providing loans and fuel, though critics warn of risks regarding debt, transparency, and technical capacity.
• China continues to finance high-polluting coal-fired thermal power plants in countries like Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, even as it prioritizes renewables within its own borders.
• Large-scale hydropower projects are increasingly viewed as economically unsound compared to wind and solar; for example, the Inga 3 project in DRC is deemed a financial risk for its main client, South Africa.
• Tanzania's Stiegler’s Gorge project is described as an expensive 'white elephant' that threatens the biodiversity of Nyerere National Park and is unlikely to deliver promised energy security due to hydrological uncertainties.
• Decentralized renewable energy (DREs), such as mini-grids and solar kits, are identified as the most effective and cost-efficient way to provide power to remote rural populations.
• Nigeria's power sector remains dysfunctional despite privatization efforts, with citizens spending $14 billion annually on fuel and generators to compensate for an unreliable grid.
• Regional power pools, such as the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) and West African Power Pool (WAPP), aim to increase stability and attract investment, but are often hindered by weak legal frameworks and political rivalry.

APA

Good Governance Africa (2021). Africa in Fact. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content//2020/12/AIF-56-ONLINE.pdf

Chicago

Good Governance Africa. Africa in Fact. 2021. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content//2020/12/AIF-56-ONLINE.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Good Governance Africa |title=Africa in Fact |date=January 2021 |url=https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content//2020/12/AIF-56-ONLINE.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{goodgovernanceafrica2021africa, author = {{Good Governance Africa}}, title = {{Africa in Fact}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, year = {2021}, month = jan, url = {https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content//2020/12/AIF-56-ONLINE.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }