Africa had an energy deficit, highlighted African Union (AU) Commissioner for Infrastructure Lerato Mataboge, on Wednesday. She was addressing the 2026 Africa Energy Indaba, being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

"Energy is the foundation upon which modern economies are built," she pointed out. Without reliable energy, industrialisation was elusive, and the future of young Africans was bleak.

Currently, the continent had a total installed generating capacity of 245 GW, which was less than some individual developed countries, she observed. Electricity consumption across the continent was only 600 kW/h/y, which was five times less than the world average.

"Yet Africa is rich in energy resources," she stressed. They included hydro, geothermal and solar power, "wind corridors", natural gas and oil. "Only a small fraction of these resources have been harnessed."

This was where leadership came in, and the AU had a role in this, through its Agenda 2063. The AU had advanced a number of continental energy initiatives, notably the Single African Electricity Market initiative. This would integrate the continent's fragmented electricity systems. It would link the various regional power pools. When created, it would be the world's largest electricity market.

"The pace of investment remains insufficient to meet Africa's growth," she cautioned. The continent had to provide electricity for an additional 90-million to 100-million people a year. That needed an investment of $200-billion by 2030. Actual investment was only $45-billion, creating a shortfall of more than $150-billion. Africa needed fairer financing options but it also had to mobilise its own funding. 

Further, the development of the continent's energy sources had to be linked to its wider economic objectives, especially industrialisation. 

"Africa's energy future must be built through cooperation," asserted Mataboge. "The future of Africa will be powered by Africa and we will build that future together."