Africa has encountered issues of widespread power outages, caused by inefficient power supply and reports of corruption across various governments that make up the continent.
A project that aims to respond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13, which focuses on energy access and climate action, is expected to boost energy efficiency on the continent as long as it raises $3 billion over the next three years.
The Africa Energy Efficiency Facility, or AfEEF, is a collaboration initiative between the department, the African Union Commission through the African Energy Commission and the United Nations Environment Program.
The foundations of the initiative were laid at the second and third Group of 20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meetings held in the Western Cape and North West, South Africa, earlier this year.
AfEEF aims to address continent’s energy needs
According to South African Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Mare, AfEEF responds to the need of sustainable energy on the continent, where it has reached levels of up to 60 percent in some areas.
Graham-Mare made the statement during the launch of the program in Durban.
The member of the South African National Assembly said the project is envisioned as a continental platform, which will mobilise finance at scale, with a target of $3 billion by 2030.
It will help countries improve energy efficiency policies and regulations; improve technical capacity across regions and institutions; and promote digitalisation and innovation through energy management and appliance databases.
“Energy efficiency is our ‘first fuel’. It is the fastest, cheapest, and most sustainable way to close the gap between energy demand and supply.”
“It is not simply about saving energy, it is about creating opportunities for growth, jobs, and better lives for all,” she added.
The program, according to the deputy minister, can improve energy efficiency by at least 12 percent by 2030 and create some one million “green” jobs by 2040.
It will also save investment money as it avoids the need for up to 40 gigawatts of new generation capacity and brings down greenhouse gas emissions by 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
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Legacy program of South Africa G20 presidency
The project is the legacy program of South Africa’s presidency in the Group of 20 and the deputy minister believes energy efficiency is “not a technical choice; it is a human imperative.”
Graham-Mare said AfEEF is a promise to the African communities.
She added that this is the pledge that aims to unlock Africa’s energy productivity as soon as possible.
“This is not just a technical problem. It is a human rights problem.”
“It affects the health of our children, the productivity of our industries, the education of our youth, and the dignity of our households,” she added.
“Without addressing these inefficiencies, we cannot hope to unlock Africa’s full potential.”
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Shameeka Voyiya 
Lucia Caporalini 
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