Investing in energy is vital for Africa

Lazarus Sauti

Investing in energy is crucial if the African continent is to effectively grow its economies. As a result, African governments should prioritise more investment and skilled personnel in the energy (hydro, wind and solar projects) sector if the continent is to transform its economies.

For this reason, ESKOM (South African electricity public utility) chief executive Brian Dames has called for more investment and skilled personnel in the energy sector, in a bid to grow African economies.

“Although Africa was a “dark continent”, it had the potential to shine and prosper. If Africa wants to prosper, she must attract more investments in energy sector. We need a lot of investments for infrastructure development in Africa,” Dames explained.

Companies in countries within and across the African continent must invest in their staff. Skills are critical to growth and development of the African continent.

More so, African companies must support African governments in building more power stations in the continent region. They must collaborate in ensuring Africans have access to energy and they should adopt successful renewable energy for the African citizenry.

Furthermore, there is a need of technical co-operation of African governments and experts in the energy sector to enhance the use of hydro, solar and wind energy in the continent. This is so because energy is a powers development.

Investing in energy and eensuring the provision of adequate, affordable, efficient and reliable high-quality energy services with minimum adverse effect on the environment in sustainable way is thus crucial for African countries.

However, harnessing hydro, solar and wind energy is not a cheap exercise. Financial resources are required for the primary cost of acquiring equipment needed and installing energy plants.

As a result, it is the responsibility of governments, development partners and policy makers in Africa to source financial resources for the preliminary cost of installing the different energy plants.

African leaders and stakeholders in the energy sector should support projects and programmes on African energy activities since the continent needs sustainable energy supplies to be in a position to develop socio-economically.

The corporate sector must also take the lead in promoting activities that aims to establish commercially viable energy sectors in which African companies market, install and serve energy for African households.

Despite some negative factors such as lack of funds, wind, solar and biogas technology can be a vehicle for far-fetched and achievable rural development in the continent.

Africa as a continent is facing massive development challenges, including a lack of proper energy infrastructure. Therefore, countries within and across the continent should invest in successful renewable energy for the continent and her citizenry to expand and meet its developmental goals.