Africa Energy Snapshot in the foresight of the 5th EU-Africa Summit

In the vast continent with abundant indigenous energy sources and rapidly growing population, access to sustainable and affordable energy remains a challenge in Africa. Nearly 70% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) does not have access to electricity – approximately 621 million people. As far as clean technologies for cooking are concerned, the World Bank data show only a modest increase from 12.9% in 2000 to just 14.6% in 2014. Access rates vary geographically: While almost 100% of the citizens in North African countries enjoy access to electricity, the rate is only 23% in East Africa and 25% in Central Africa. Even where access to electrical grid is available, the service is often poor and unreliable. In the rural-urban division the figures are even more striking: 71% of the urban population have access compared to 28% of the rural population in SSA.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable