The OPEC Fund for International Development and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) are urging African governments and development partners to accelerate investment in electricity infrastructure, as about 600 million people across the continent remain without access to power.
The call was made at a COP31 session titled “Africa Rising: Country Lessons and Opportunities in Scaling Universal Energy Access”, where government representatives and development partners discussed ways to overcome financing, policy and institutional barriers to expanding electricity access.
Musab Alomar, OPEC Fund Vice President for Strategy, said expanding access to reliable and affordable energy was critical to improving living standards, strengthening healthcare delivery and creating economic opportunities, particularly in underserved communities.
He highlighted the impact of electricity on essential public services, including rural healthcare facilities, where reliable power is necessary to keep clinics operational and support medical services.
The discussions focused on lessons from Nigeria, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI), with participants examining how countries can translate national energy strategies into bankable investments and large-scale projects.
The session was moderated by Anita Otubu, Senior Director of Universal Energy at SEforALL.
The discussions come as African countries pursue expanded electricity grids, renewable energy projects and clean cooking initiatives, but face persistent challenges in securing the financing, institutional capacity and policy coordination needed to deliver energy access at scale.
The OPEC Fund said it was supporting Mission 300, a joint initiative aimed at connecting 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa to electricity by 2030.
The initiative reflects growing efforts by development finance institutions, governments and private investors to address the continent’s electricity deficit, which continues to constrain industrial development, business productivity and access to essential services.
Participants at the COP31 session identified stronger coordination among governments and development partners, innovative financing mechanisms and expanded private-sector participation as essential to accelerating progress.
However, translating national commitments into actual electricity connections remains a significant hurdle, particularly in communities where extending conventional grid infrastructure may be costly and commercially challenging.
The OPEC Fund and SEforALL said partnerships and increased investment would be necessary to extend reliable energy supplies to more households, businesses and public institutions, supporting economic growth and resilience across the continent.
