The European Union (EU) has announced a €545 million package to expand renewable energy investments across nine African countries, aimed at boosting electrification, modernising power grids, and improving access to clean energy.
The announcement was made via video message at the Global Citizen Festival, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a statement published on the EU’s website on Saturday.
“Investing now in solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power is not just a moral and development imperative; it is also a strategic choice that strengthens supply chains, creates up to 38 million green jobs by 2030, and makes energy systems more resilient,” the EU said.
The package includes €359.4 million for a high-voltage power project in Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen regional energy distribution, €59.1 million for rural electrification in Cameroon, €45.5 million to expand affordable renewable energy in Somalia, and €3.5 million to broaden access to solar, wind, and hydropower in the middle Republic of Congo. Lesotho will receive €25.9 million under the Renewable Lesotho programme to develop wind and hydro energy, while €2 million will go to Ghana to prepare for a large-scale solar park and regional energy trade. Madagascar is set to benefit from €33.2 million for mini-grid electrification in rural areas, and Mozambique will receive €13 million to support low-emission energy transition and private sector involvement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at the event, underscored the global importance of Africa’s energy choices. “The choices Africa makes today are shaping the future of the entire world. A clean energy transition on the continent will create jobs, stability, growth, and the delivery of our global climate goals. The European Union, with the Global Gateway investment plan, is fully committed to supporting Africa on its clean energy path,” she said.
While the continent has vast renewable energy potential, the EU noted that nearly 600 million people in Africa still live without access to electricity. The new projects, part of the Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign, are being carried out with international advocacy organisation Global Citizen and with policy support from the International Energy Agency.
In June, the EU had also pledged €10.4 million to Nigeria’s Solar for Health Project (NISHP), which aims to equip primary healthcare centres with reliable and sustainable solar energy solutions.
