Addressing Energy Poverty and the Case for Coal in Africa
By utilizing clean coal in the short term, ramping up investment and development across other energy sectors such as gas, Africa can address energy poverty, ensure energy security while reducing carbon emissions. While coal has played a huge role regarding power generation in Africa, global climate policies are threatening the continued use of the energy resource, opting rather for cleaner sources of energy. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( www.EnergyChamber.org ), as the voice of the African energy sector, believes Africa should maintain coal's role as a vital part of a diverse energy portfolio to be able to meet the continent’s energy needs and accelerate industrialization and economic growth. Coal as a Key Driver of Electrification in Africa While coal generated 28% of Africa’s total electricity in 2021, according to the AEC’s Q1 2022 Outlook, The State of African Energy, the anticipated increase in energy demand of between 3% and 5% per annum over the next decade provides an ...