Energy Transition in Africa, Africa Institute of South Africa

Abstract

Fossil fuel energy exists abundantly in Africa, but it did not benefit Africa. Anything extracted from
beneath the ground such as coal, oil and other natural resources brought what is known as the
resource curse to Africa. In addition, the economy in Africa largely remained in a dilemma where
there was a lock-in phenomenon of the international division of labour that made Africa export
commodity and minerals at its own expense in an unequal exchange for importing manufactured
goods made outside from the rest of the world. â€By 2030, the demand for energy will have
increased to 31 trillion kWh, of which an estimated 20 trillion will be generated from renewable
sources.â€(Energy Transition in Africa, 2011) So renewable energy is projected to supply the bulk of
global energy! Investment in solar energy is the order of the day!