Africa is racing against time to provide electricity and clean cooking for its growing population. According to the Africa Sustainable Development Goal 7 Report (2025) by the African Energy Commission (AFREC), 563 million people remain without electricity, while 940 million still rely on polluting fuels such as wood, charcoal, and kerosene. Despite gains in electrification — the continent reached 61 % in 2023, up from 51 % in 2017 — progress is uneven, with Northern Africa nearing universal access at 98 %, while Central Africa lags at just 28 %.
Clean cooking remains a critical challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where urban-rural disparities leave millions at risk of health and environmental hazards. Financing gaps also threaten progress, with an estimated $50 B per year needed to achieve universal electricity access and an additional $4 B annually for clean cooking technologies. While innovative models like blended finance, concessional loans, pay-as-you-go systems, and climate bonds are emerging, they remain limited in scale.
AFREC warns that without urgent, coordinated action, demographic pressures, rural population growth, and limited infrastructure development could leave over one billion Africans without clean energy by 2030. Experts highlight the need for stronger policy measures, investment in distributed energy solutions, and accelerated renewable energy adoption to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: ESI Africa
