Africa can significantly increase energy security by strengthening regional transmission grids to enable electricity trading, according to the head of a US government-led partnership focused on the continent.
“If we can get these power pools functioning then really, that is what a modern energy network looks like,” he said. “It’s critical for the development of the continent to trade power.” African nations also face the challenge of state power companies that fail to provide reliable electricity supply and lack resources. “There continues to be almost no utility that is viable,” said Nelson. “They’re all underwater, they’re all being subsidized” and lack funds to build needed infrastructure, he said, without naming any specific firms.