If a pivot away from coal can be replicated, Africa’s higher use of fossil fuels may not necessarily equate to higher emissions
Littleton — African nations made clear at last week’s UN climate summit that the region would develop its fossil-fuel resources to alleviate fuel shortages, help lift local populations out of poverty and spur vital economic growth.
Yet the extent of any actual emissions increase will depend greatly on the source of power used to generate electricity in each country.In 2021, Africa as a whole generated 39% of its electricity from gas, 29% from coal, 8% from other fossil fuels, 17% from hydro, and 4% from renewable sources, according to data from Ember.
SA is primarily powered by locally mined coal, which generated nearly 90% of the country's total electricity supply of 224.63 terawatt hours in 2021. However, the energy systems of the continent’s five largest economies — Nigeria, SA, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco — can provide clues as to what may be expected in different parts of the continent.
However, given the international support for helping countries transition away from dirty coal towards cleaner energy sources, several nations that currently rely on coal are expected to receive funding for efforts to switch to other fuels, which may serve to cap coal’s market share in the region. In Western Africa, Nigeria is playing a pivotal role in expanding gas consumption after boosting production by roughly 50% since 2010 and signing deals for pipelined exports to other countries in the region.
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