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Global collaboration key to sustainable devt. – Tinubu

Michael Simire
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Global collaboration key to sustainable devt. – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, assured a global audience in the United Arab Emirates that Nigeria is ready to work with other nations to build a resilient, equitable and sustainable world for all.

President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu

Tinubu said this while speaking on the topic, “From Climate Imperatives into Economic Prosperity: Bridging Africa with the Global Energy Future,” on the second day of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

The President declared that no single nation could walk the road to sustainability alone, stressing that global interconnectedness demanded collective action, knowledge sharing and mutual support, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.

“The fight against climate change is not merely an environmental necessity but a global economic opportunity to reshape the trajectory of our continent and the global energy landscape.

“As leaders, stakeholders and citizens of our planet, we stand at a critical juncture in human history. To succeed, we must innovate, collaborate and act decisively as one global community,” Tinubu said.

Reiterating his administration’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, Tinubu assured the audience that the Nigerian government had developed actionable programmes in line with global expectations.

“We have embraced a vision of sustainability that aligns with global aspirations while addressing local realities.

“Our efforts are anchored on three pillars: Energy Transition, Climate Resilience, and Sustainable Development.

“My administration recognises the importance of reducing carbon emissions and a just transition to clean and renewable energy, promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth,” he said.

Tinubu added that Nigeria is developing infrastructure for the widespread use of Compressed Natural Gas and electric vehicles and harnessing the potential in solid minerals to support the green energy transition.

According to him, Nigeria is also implementing climate-smart agricultural practices to enhance food security and lessen its destructive environmental impact.

These, he said, included the introduction of the National Clean Cooking Policy to promote clean energy, environmental and health benefits and socio-economic development in the African region.

Tinubu said the government was working with local communities to implement solutions to mitigate the adverse consequences of the country’s environmental challenges.

He said these challenges – deforestation, desertification, coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution – threatened the livelihoods of millions.

He called on partner countries to collaborate in mobilising resources to tackle these challenges and embrace innovation and technology.

“To promote a Green Economy in Africa, we must focus on integrating sustainable practices in all sectors of our economy.

“These investments are capital intensive and require international support from partner countries, including multinational organisations, development partners and individuals,” he said.

He said Nigeria became the first country in Africa to initiate funding of green projects through Sovereign Green Bond proceeds, the third issuance of which is in progress.

“We urge investors to partner with us in this regard. Our administration remains committed to providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in Nigeria.

“By partnering with global leaders and harnessing the power of technology, we are finding new and innovative ways to address our environmental challenges.

“We have arable agricultural lands for advanced technological farming, including a bright future for Artificial Intelligence,” Tinubu said.

By Salif Atojoko

Planning Permit: Lagos demands mandatory CCTV camera in buildings over six floors

Michael Simire
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Planning Permit: Lagos demands mandatory CCTV camera in buildings over six floors

The Lagos State Government has said that it will henceforth demand the mandatory provision of CCTV cameras in buildings of six floors and above as a prerequisite for the issuance of Planning Permits.

Dr. Oluyinka Olumide
Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide

This was made known in Alausa on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide.

According to the Commissioner, “property owners will, as a requirement for Planning Permit, now be mandated to install CCTV cameras in all existing buildings of six floors and above along major roads in the state as well as in all proposed or under construction buildings of six floors and above anywhere in the state”.

He stated further that the initiative would also cover all commercial buildings in Lagos State, which would equally be mandated to provide CCTV cameras as a requirement for their approvals.

Olumide said that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, approved the initiative to bring about enhanced security and balance public safety with physical planning considerations within the state. 

He disclosed that, to ensure consistency and interoperability, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) would establish standardised specifications for CCTV camera systems and direct regular maintenance and inspection schedules to ensure camera functionality.

The agency will also mandate property owners to always make the footage available to the state security agents on request.

He enjoined all stakeholders to support the initiative, which he said is in tandem with the smart city ideals and the T.H.E.M.E.S.+ Agenda of the Lagos State Government as it is geared towards achieving a livable, organised and sustainable Lagos.

A construction professional, Mr. Ayotunde Bally, has expressed support for the Lagos State Government’s directive requiring installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in buildings with six or more floors.

Bally, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Dembally Ltd., a real estate development company, gave the support in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos.

He described the decision as a positive step, particularly given the security challenges in the country.

According to him, the initiative is very crucial for enhancing safety within residential and commercial buildings.

Bally said: “The new mandatory requirement for property owners to install CCTV cameras in all buildings of six floors and above is a welcome development.

“This is because of the insecurity that is possibly going on the rise as a result of the economic situation in the country.”

Bally said that the requirement should be extended to buildings with fewer than six floors, specifically those housing four or more occupants.

According to him, the CCTV camera installation should be a standard security measure for any building with multiple occupants, regardless of its height, to ensure safety and well-being of the occupants.

“When you have multiple occupants in a building, that bulding essentially should be regarded as a mini-estate; It is important that they have CCTV cameras to protect the occupants of that property.

“Any building that has more than four different occupants in a compound needs to have CCTV cameras installed,” he said.

The President, National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Mr Adesegun Banjoko, said that the directive was not just a security measure, but also the beginning of a broader push for improved security within the state.

He said that the directive could pave the way for implementation of other advanced security technologies and strategies.

Banjoko expressed the hope that the initiative would encourage further investments in security infrastructure and lead to a significant improvement in public safety.

Nigerian Youth Climate Summit to ‘transform nation’s climate future’

Michael Simire
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Nigerian Youth Climate Summit to ‘transform nation’s climate future’

As part of Our Earth Care Initiative, the Safe Earth Care Foundation and Osigwe Anyiam- Osigwe Foundation will host the Nigerian Youth Climate Summit (NYCS), scheduled to take place in Abuja from June 5–6, 2025. The event aims to gather youths from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ignite Nigeria’s climate-smart socioeconomic development through the skills, innovation and talents of its youths.

Youth agripreneurs
Youth agripreneurs during a visit to Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB),

NYCS 2025, themed “Empowering Youths, Transforming Nigeria’s Climate Future”, reflects the urgent need to engage Nigerian youths in climate action, as they are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and also hold the key to driving sustainable development.

“We are at such a pivotal stage that could make or break the futures of millions of people in Nigeria. The climate crisis compounds other human-made crises such as insecurity, health system failures, and chronic unemployment and underemployment, which disproportionately affect youths of the country. But rather than dwell on crises, it is important to enable and actualise innovation by youths, and usher in a future that provides opportunities to flourish. The Nigerian Youth Climate Summit (NYCS) serves as a platform to facilitate positive change, and Our Earth Care Initiative is keen to work with a spectrum of actors to achieve shared goals,” said Adaudo Anyiam-Osigwe, Executive Director of Our Earth Care Initiative.

The Summit will raise climate awareness, amplify youth voices, and provide platforms to build a climate-resilient future for Nigeria’s young population, which currently makes up 70% of its overall population – the largest in the world.

The Safe Earth Care Foundation and the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation invite all stakeholders, including youth-focused organisations, government agencies, universities and research institutes, private sector entities, and individuals, to support the initiative and advance climate action and sustainable development in the country.

Our Earth Care Initiative seeks to enable the knowledge and tools to address environmental degradation and the climate crisis, and contribute towards sustainable development and a resilient and thriving environment.

“Together, we can empower Nigerian youths to transform the country’s climate future and build a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria for all,” remarked the promoters.

Taraba validates climate change policy, action plan document

Michael Simire
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Taraba validates climate change policy, action plan document

The Government of Taraba State took a somewhat giant step towards effective climate action and sustainable development as it held a stakeholders validation workshop for its climate policy and action plan on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in Jalingo, the capital city.

Taraba
Delegates at the validation workshop in Jalingo, Taraba State

The Climate Change Policy and Action Plan which covered all the key sectors using both quantitative and qualitative assessment methods was developed in collaboration with the Society for Plant and Prosperity (SPP) with funding support from the African Climate Foundation (ACF) and the European Climate Foundation (ECF).

The validation workshop marked a significant progress by the state towards improving its climate governance structure and attracting climate finance to implement viable clean projects.

It brought together diverse stakeholders, including state and local government officials, community leaders, civil servants, businesses, civil society organisations, academics, private sector representatives and international partners, who praised the report while also offering valuable feedback to ensure an actionable implementation roadmap.

In his welcome address, the State Director for Climate Change, Ahmed Lazarus, commended the technical team for their diligent work in drafting the policy document. He also thanked the State Governor, Agbu Kefas, and the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Chang, Aishat Barde, for their support, and provision of an enabling environment for climate action.

Delivering her opening remarks, Barde thanked participants for their contributions, stating that stakeholders’ input cannot be overemphasised. She also appreciated the ACF and SPP for selecting Taraba State as a beneficiary of the fund, and for their effort in ensuring that the policy development process captures the voices and needs of the people of Taraba.

Citing the recent wildfires in California, she highlighted the impacts of climate change and warned against the dangers of inaction. Barde also reiterated the state government’s commitment to addressing climate change challenges.

“This document is not just the document of the state Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, but rather a document of the government of Taraba State as it clearly indicated the different sectors where actions need to be implemented towards reducing greenhouse gas emission in the state and achieving sustainable growth. This is both a call for awareness and climate action in Taraba State,” she said.

In his keynote address, the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, who was represented by the Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Climate Change, Taraba State House of Assembly, Dr. Tafarki Agbadu Eneme, underscored the urgent need for climate action in the state giving its vulnerability, describing the validation of the Policy and Action Plan documents as timely. He said the documents have laid the groundwork for coordinated climate action in the state and reaffirmed the commitment of the Taraba State Government towards mitigating the impact of climate change.  

“We must recognise that climate change is not just an environmental issue, it is a multifaceted challenge that affects our economy, health and the future generation. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to addressing these challenges through a robust and actionable climate change policy that aligns with global standards set forth by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement and other international treaty,” he declared.

Professor Emmanuel Oladipo, leader and representative of the technical team, commended Professor Chukwumerije Okereke and Dr Eugene Itua for assembling the team that developed the policy and action plan, and encouraged Taraba State Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to work together to make the success of the policy and action plan document a reality.

He highlighted that the United States of America (USA) is already working hard to prevent the reoccurrence of the California fire disaster, a situation he referenced to show that climate change does not discriminate hence adding that Taraba State must take action.

Professor Okereke, President of SPP, said he was delighted that Taraba State has taken this important step in producing a document that can enable it to coordinate its climate action in ways that addresses local needs and contribute to national and international climate objectives. He urged the Taraba State Government not to see the climate policy as an end itself but a means towards mobilising climate finance and pursing more ambitious climate goals. 

After the technical breakout session, participants took the stage to share their recommendations for enhancing the implementation of the policy. These suggestions included aligning the climate change policy with the state’s electricity law, strengthening the state’s capacity to generate renewable energy, and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.

By Elijah Iklaga, Edwin Orugbo and Ugochukwu Uzuegbu

Solar in Africa grows significantly for third year in a row

Michael Simire
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Solar in Africa grows significantly for third year in a row

Solar installations have reached new heights across the globe in 2024 with a whopping 503 GWp of estimated capacity. This represents a 44% increase compared to 2023. In Africa, the growth is more modest but new installations maintain a solid level at 2.5 GWp after 2022 and 2023 being record years for solar in Africa.

Solar panels
Solar panels

Thanks to new solar installations, Africa is now home to 19.2 GWp (excluding residential installations). This is the 3rd year in a row that more than 2 GWp are being installed, which is testament to the good health of the industry. But solar in Africa did however not grow as much as the global solar market and still represents less than 1% of all solar currently installed across the globe.

Solar continues to spread across Africa

More and more African nations are adopting solar in their energy mix. Some already install massively, while other are making their first steps with solar. In 2024, 2 African nations installed more than 100 MW (one more than 2023), 16 installed more than 10 MW (stable) and 29 installed at least 1 MW (2 more than 2023). The best performers in terms of installed capacity include South Africa with an estimated 1,235 MWp, Egypt with 707 MWp, Zambia with 74.8 MWp, Nigeria with 63.5 MWp and Angola with 53.8 MWp. All these figures exclude residential installations as these are currently not tracked by AFSIA. It is estimated that these residential installations could represent 10% to 20% additional capacity.

But while solar conquers more African countries, the business nevertheless remains highly concentrated. In 2024, South Africa and Egypt represented almost 80% of all the new solar installed, respectively representing 50% and 29%. But with multiple projects already announced and at various stages of development in several countries which are new to solar, we may witness a more distributed spread of solar in Africa in the years to come.

If we look at the prevalence of solar in the overall national power generation, the Central African Republic still leads the ranking of countries where solar contributes the most to the overall electricity mix, with more than 40% of all grid electricity consumed in the country originating from solar. And another 6 African countries already have solar contribute more than 10% of their power consumption, which is a remarkable performance at global level. These countries are Mauritania (20.7%), Namibia (13.4%), Somalia (11.6%), Malawi (11.4%) The Gambia (10.6%) and Cape Verde (10.5%).

In terms of solar per capita, the 2024 top 5 remains almost unchanged. Wealthy islands Seychelles, Mauritius and Cape Verde are joined by African solar champions South Africa and Namibia. In the overall ranking, The Gambia lands at #16 and is the country that progresses the most (+25 spots) thanks to the commissioning of its 23 MWp Jambur Solar Plant Solar.

The boom of storage

Storage is becoming a key element of the African solar eco-system. From 2017 to 2022, storage in Africa represented on average only around 50 MWh per annum. In 2023 this capacity grew to 150 MWh+ and in 2024 it grew to more than 1,600 MWh.

This exponential growth is to thank to sharply decreasing prices for lithium-ion storage solutions. Industry-leading research firm Bloomberg NEF estimates that the cost of such storage has decreased by 20% in 2024, after decreasing 13% in 2023. This is the strongest price decrease in the last 7 years.

The reason behind this significant decrease is a combination of production overcapacity and heightened competition between manufacturers. Several gigawatt factories were put online across the globe in recent years to address the expected boom of electric mobility. These investments also benefit the market of stationary storage thanks to the economies of scale they have created. And because electric vehicles sales have not delivered as promised, production overcapacity has added an element of intense price competition between manufacturers.

Therefore, the market experiences a real boom of storage within African solar projects, and within the power generation landscape at large. A few large-scale projects have been recently announced or have even started construction. Such projects include for example the 2nd phase of Soma Project in The Gambia with 100 MW / 130 MWh, the Lolda Solar Farm in Senegal comprising of 60 MWp of PV and 72 MWh of storage, and the impressive 900 MW PV / 720 MWh storage in Egypt developed by Masdar and Infinity Power.

Africa Solar Outlook report, a wealth of information country-by-country

Next to highlighting the most notable projects and trends, the Africa Solar Outlook 2025 report also provides a unique overview of the status of solar in each African country. The “Country Vignettes” describe the national eco-system of solar across its key parameters including country objectives for renewables energy, solar policies, current electricity tariffs, national electrification rate, key electricity institutions and current installed capacity in the country. These key parameters make it extremely easy to get familiar with the reality of solar in each country and compare national performance and opportunities.

By John van Zuylen, Africa Solar Industry Association

World’s second largest desalination plant to supply potable water to Amman, Aqaba

Michael Simire
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World’s second largest desalination plant to supply potable water to Amman, Aqaba

The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the consortium led by Meridiam-SUEZ have signed a 30-year concession contract for the desalination and conveyance of drinking water to 3 million people in the cities of Amman, the capital of Jordan, and Aqaba.

Amman
Amman, the capital of Jordan

The 851,000 m3/day desalination plant will be the second largest in the world. It will produce up to 40% of the country’s drinking water consumption. This project, which represents an investment of around €4 billion, will contribute to the country’s water security and the quality of life of the Jordanian people.

Jordan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, with less than 100 m3 of fresh water available per inhabitant per year. Climate change and rapid demographic growth are exacerbating the pressure on water resources.

The Jordanian Government has initiated a large-scale project to desalinate water from the Red Sea, in the Gulf of Aqaba, and convey it to Aqaba and Amman, the capital city. The project will provide a continuous supply of water to more than three million people.

For this project, Meridiam, a mission-driven company (B Corp) specialising in the development, financing and long-term management of sustainable public infrastructure, and SUEZ (1), a world leader in circular water solutions, formed a special purpose company (SPC). It will be responsible for the financing, construction and operation of the water desalination and conveyance infrastructure under the terms of a 30-year concession contract.

The Gulf of Aqaba reverse osmosis plant will be the second largest in the world, built in one phase, with a design capacity of 851,000 m3 of drinking water per day.

For the construction of the desalination plant and of the 445 km of pipelines to convey the drinking water to Aqaba and Amman, Meridiam and SUEZ will combine their expertise with a group of international and regional partners.

The project is supported by the US International Development Finance Corporation and the US Agency for International Development in Amman, along with the European Union and several international financial bodies. As such, it is subject to a strict set of environmental and social requirements. A 724 GWh/year solar power plant will notably be developed as part of this contract.

Pierre Pauliac, Group Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer Water of SUEZ, commented: “SUEZ teams are very proud to be awarded this major contract, with Meridiam as well as regional and international partners, to finance, build and operate the second largest desalination plant in the world. This contract draws on SUEZ’s 50 years of experience in seawater desalination, with more than 260 plants built around the world [2]. It is part of a long-standing relationship with the Jordanian authorities in the field of water management.”

In line with standard practice, the construction will commence upon the satisfaction of a number of conditions, one of which is the completion of financial closing.

Govt will deploy drones to maximise agricultural output – Kyari

Michael Simire
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Govt will deploy drones to maximise agricultural output – Kyari

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, said the Federal Government would deploy technology for all-year round farming.

Drone
A drone. Photo credit: Jared Brashier on Unsplash

The minister said this while briefing State House correspondents.

“The faster we clear land, harvest, chemical deployment, whether it’s pesticide, whether it’s herbicide, the better.

“We intend to use drone technology in doing that because what one drone can do, a hundred people cannot do in a day.

“So, we are going to use drones to fast-track agricultural activities, harvest quickly, and then make the land available for the next cycle of cultivation,” said Kyari.

He said his ministry would partner the private sector to support vibrant youths to take advantage of its mechanisation programme.

“It is very important to also educate our farmers that agriculture is no longer for the stomach only. It should also be seen as a business, something that will earn a livelihood.

“So, what we have seen that input support may not necessarily be what will incentivise our smallholder farmers to produce.

“I think we need to change the mindset and see how we can engage them in such a way that funding from the private sector should support agricultural production,” Kyari said.

By Salif Atojoko

Katsina earmarks N50b for water projects

Michael Simire
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Katsina earmarks N50b for water projects

The Katsina State Government says it has earmarked about N50 billion to execute various water related projects across the state in the year 2025.

Dikko Radda
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State

Managing Director of the State Water Board, Mr. Tukur Tingilin, disclosed this in Katsina on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, while inaugurating grievance redress committees.

He also said that, in 2025, the government would initiate various projects that would benefit the people, particularly in the provision of potable water across the state.

According to Tingilin, the government has committed N8.4 billion in 2024 as part of a N20 billion World Bank supported project to overhaul, upgrade, and rehabilitate water facilities in 20 communities across five local government areas (LGAs) in the state.

Tingilin explained that the aim of the project under World Bank NG-SURWASH was to improve water supply and infrastructure in the state.

According to him, the project would also involve the replacement of obsolete pipes, installation of new water systems, and general facility upgrades.

Tingili explained that extensive consultations with stakeholders in affected communities were conducted to ensure the success of the initiative.

He said the grievance redress committees were inaugurated for Katsina/Batagarawa, Daura, Funtua Dutsinma and Malumfashi LGAs to ensure intervention whenever the need arises between the communities and contractors regarding the projects being executed.

“For instance, while executing the projects, and it passes through someone’s shop, the committee will intervene to ensure that the affected residents are compensated.

“Compensated in the sense that, when a water pipe is passing through the shop, the committee will ensure that anything broken, must be fixed back.

“The committee is also responsible to monitor the project’s implementation, to ensure it meets the required quality and specifications,” he said.

Tingilin explained that the upgrade of some water facilities across the communities was to meet up with the growing population in the areas.

“When those facilities were provided, the residents were not more than 200, but now they have increased to thousands.

“Those communities will also be provided with more water tanks, boreholes, solar facilities, and also ensure their maintenance.

“Government is targeting to replace with the new, the old installed pipes across the Katsina metropolis, because the areas are no longer supplied with the water.

“This will enable the residents to have a clean and potable water supply in their houses. And we are also targeting to connect many extension areas with water lines.”

Tingilin said the Gov. Dikko Radda administration remains committed to ensuring that no community is left without water supply.

In his remarks, the District Head of Malumfashi, Justice Sadiq Abdullahi-Mahuta, lauded the initiative and assured the traditional institution support towards its successful execution.

By Abbas Bamalli

Osinbajo advocates climate positive growth in Africa

Michael Simire
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Osinbajo advocates climate positive growth in Africa

The former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has advocated climate positive growth for job and wealth creation to deal with extreme poverty in Africa.

Yemi Osinbajo
Former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

Osinbajo said this while speaking at the 23rd Chief S.L. Edu Memorial lecture on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in Lagos.

Climate positive growth is a way of measuring progress towards a more sustainable future by removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than is emitted. It’s also known as carbon negative growth.

The memorial lecture was organised by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in collaboration with Chevron.

The lecture, with the theme “Greening Africa’s Economies: Can Climate Positive Growth Deliver Prosperity?”, was delivered by Osinbajo.

He said Africa could help the world meet its net zero target by developing a green partner or climate positive growth.

“The important thing about this is that it will create jobs and wealth and deal with extreme poverty.

“And I think we should ask ourselves the question, why does the climate positive growth paradigm for development make sense?

“Why does it make sense for Africa to develop along the green economic paradigm? It is because we have climate competitiveness.

“That is to say that our economies will do better than most other economies if we grow green,” he said.

Osinbajo who said the world was increasingly paying for climate solutions noted that the world was changing their ideas on what to consume or whether it is green.

“The world increasingly pays for climate solutions and what I mean by this is that through consumer preferences, consumers in different parts of the world, of course, are changing their ideas about what they will consume, whether those things are green.

“There’s also a price on carbon. In many different economies today, there is a price on carbon. In other words, you are emitting carbon, you pay a price for it one way or the other.

“So, the places in the world that can provide green solutions, most cost-competitive, have a massive economic opportunity.

“So if in Africa we can produce any product that is competitive, green products that are competitive, we already have a massive economic advantage.

Osinbajo, who said Africa had the key ingredients to be a major climate action powerhouse, attributed these to untapped renewable energy, young entrepreneurial workforce, and relevant natural assets and resources,

“Indeed, late starters to industrialisation and our low-carbon footprint can actually be an advantage to us, enabling us to develop green-filled energy manufacturing.

“This will save us the cost of abandoned legacy carbon-intensive manufacturing projects.

“By pursuing an industrialisation pathway using renewable energy, of which we have 60 percent of the world’s potential, we can actually develop the first green industrial civilisation,” he said.

Osinbajo said Africa could achieve economic growth without growing emissions or even keeping emissions constant.

“This way, we can actually realise economic growth, job creation, livelihood improvement by being a part of the climate solution.

“I think it’s been well argued that Africa probably has the best potential in terms of the green and blue assets that we have to become the first truly green industrial civilisation.

“This enable the world to achieve its net-zero objectives. Africa is a global powerhouse of natural and renewable energy resources, and this positions the continent at the heart of the green transition.

“Now, there are some facts from very well-established public resources that show that Africa holds one-sixth of the world’s remaining forests, one-sixth of all of the forests,” he said.

He added that Africa could either be the nexus of the world of the solution to the current crisis.

“We can either be, and when I say we, I refer to Africa, we can either be the nexus of the world or the solution to the current crisis, depending on how we choose to develop.

“To achieve this net zero condition, the world needs Africa to take a carbon negative path to develop,” he said.

 The NCF Director General, Dr Joseph Onoja, while speaking with journalists after the lecture, called for a strong governance to ensure full implementation on actions regarding the cilantro growth.

“The S.L. Edu annual lecture provided a platform for us to bring out some conversations on this field and this is an example of that.

“That is why we will continue to push. Apart from the plans that we have, we will need strong governance structure that we will be able to ensure that whatever actions or activities we want to implement will be implemented.

“If we do not have strong governance, then whatever we are doing will be washed down the drain and that’s why we encourage that there should be transparency, accountability in all that we do,” he said.

Earlier, the National Executive Chairman, NCF, Justice Bukola Adebiyi, thanked Osinbajo for the lecture.

Adebiyi urged Nigerians to continue to plant trees for a greener and better environment.

Two Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students were awarded grants on their respective fields of study.

The two PhD students are Yohanna Christopher and Oluwatoyin Olayinka both studying Plant Ecology and Forest Information System in University of Jos and Ibadan respectively.

By Henry Oladele and Esenvosa Izah

Just Energy Transition in Africa: Lessons from South Africa, Senegal

Michael Simire
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Just Energy Transition in Africa: Lessons from South Africa, Senegal

Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) have been introduced in recent years to provide financial support to developing nations as they transition away from fossil fuels. In 2021, during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), South Africa became the first nation to sign such a deal. Senegal and the International Partners Group (IGP) signed a JETP in June 2023.

Just Energy Transition
Just Energy Transition

I have said before that the best way for Western countries, and the developed world at large, to help Africa transition from fossil fuels is through investment and collaboration, not patronisation. This is precisely what the JETP programmes seek to do, assist energy emerging economies that are dependent on coal to transition away from fossil fuels while leaving room to address the associated social consequences. That is investment, that is collaboration, and above all, it is respectful of the reality that Africa can move only on its own schedule in this matter. Arbitrarily forbidding us from using our natural resources will only do more harm than good.

So far, South Africa and Senegal are the only African countries to have agreed to a JETP, with South Africa securing a deal for $8.5 billion, while Senegal secured one for $2.7 billion. How South Africa and Senegal intend to leverage these deals differ drastically, however, as do their power generation circumstances.

South Africa: Pulled Between Priorities

Coal continues to dominate South Africa’s energy portfolio, at over 80% of the country’s power generation mix. Due to chronic load shedding and energy shortage issues, the country is now being pulled between two priorities, ensuring energy security and adhering to its decarbonisation plans. General power outages have plagued the country since 2008 but intensified in recent years and effectively hamstrung South Africa’s economy, which has not surpassed even 1% gross domestic product (GDP) annual growth in the last decade.

The country’s aging coal fleet faces significant maintenance issues which led to several of the country’s largest coal units being rendered inoperable in 2023. That year also saw the worst load shedding the country has faced yet, more than twice what it experienced in 2022, leading to energy shortages for 335 days out of the year.

This load shedding led to a sharp increase in demand for solar panels and batteries, but Eskom (South Africa’s power utility) has had to prioritise energy security instead, prolonging its reliance on coal-fired plants and slowing down their decommissioning. To their credit, Eskom has made significant improvements to their coal plants’ maintenance and repair thanks to a recovery strategy launched in early 2023, and they have not suffered another load-shedding event since March 26, 2024.

Nevertheless, the decision to prolong their reliance on coal is at odds with South Africa’s JETP. It has also directly led to the South African government seeking renegotiation of finance deals tied to its transition to cleaner energy sources, amounting to some $2.6 billion of the originally agreed to $8.5 billion.

Above all, right now South Africa requires a solution that will ensure its energy security while also keeping the country on track with its JETP commitments, especially given its peak demand by 2030 is expected to reach 38 gigawatts (GW), a full 6 GW more than its current peak. And even though 13.6 GW of new power plants are expected to come online by 2027, with solar PV accounting for over half and onshore wind accounting for 25% of the new capacity, coal is still expected to meet two-thirds of daily demand. Battery storage assets awarded by South Africa’s Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (BESIPPP) will also contribute to this new capacity. Renewable-based generation in South Africa is also expected to grow from nearly 14.1% currently to nearly 29% by 2030.

I want to be very clear here: South Africa’s renewable energy growth is commendable, and Eskom’s decision to prioritise energy security via coal when an alternative solution wasn’t immediately available was understandable and pragmatic. But the country’s renewables are not advancing fast enough to cover for the aging of its coal fleet, and no amount of emergency maintenance campaigns can ensure that similar issues won’t lead to a load-shedding crisis again. If unaddressed, it will introduce the risk of shortfalls when the coal fleet is inevitably shut down at its end of life. Gas-to-power is thus the most prudent option for South Africa to prioritise while it continues working to expand its renewable power sources.

The flexibility provided by gas-to-power will help meet demand once the coal fleet can no longer provide South Africa’s baseload power, leaving it with only its Koeberg nuclear power plant and currently limited solar and hydropower resources to fill in the gap. Not only is natural gas more cost-effective and efficient as a power source than coal, but it is also relatively cheap to retrofit a formerly coal-fired plant with gas turbines, allowing South Africa to both gradually phase out coal while saving money that would otherwise be spent building entirely new infrastructure.

All of this will matter a great deal, as South Africa anticipates phasing out coal to require $99 billion between 2023 and 2027. So far, it has raised half between their JETP deal with the IGP, $33 billion in private sector investments, and $10 billion from the public sector. South Africa hopes to fill the gap through both domestic and international private entities in the form of grants, guarantees, and concessional loans.

Fewer Struggles in Senegal

Senegal, meanwhile, looks to be having fewer troubles, being reliant on liquid fuel sources rather than coal. The $2.7 billion raised through its JETP is expected to attract and mobilise further investments from both the private and public sectors, much the same as South Africa. Senegal, however, will also be receiving technical assistance from its international partners to boost the integration of its renewable energy infrastructure and technology, with a heavy focus on grid stabilisation and battery storage.

This aligns well with its electrification plans, which aim to achieve 40% of its installed capacity mix provided by renewables by 2030, up considerably from the current 22%. Senegal has also committed to developing an investment plan within 12 months to identify its needs, opportunities, and allocations to meet its targets.

To that same end, Senegal plans to publish a revised nationally determined contribution (NDC) at COP30, set to take place in late 2025. The current NDC outlines an unconditional target of 235 MW of solar PV, 150 MW of onshore wind, and 314 MW of hydro by 2030. With international assistance, these targets are set to rise to 335 MW of solar PV, 250 MW of onshore wind, 50 MW of bioenergy and 50 MW of solar thermal.

Overall, both South Africa and Senegal stand to benefit significantly from their JETPs, and this is a trend I hope to see continue in the future for African states. There are, of course, growing pains. JETPs are still a nascent programme, and the first few deals were signed as political promises first and foremost before the full technical and coordination details could be fully worked out by all sides.

The implementation process for South Africa and Senegal has thus been delayed while consultations and negotiations smooth over the logistical details. In addition, JETPs alone will be nowhere near enough to fully cover the financial burden of transitioning African countries away from fossil fuels, and acquiring the private financial investments to bridge the gap may prove difficult for many countries.

This is why it is crucial for African states, and the world at large, to keep a close eye on how things develop in South Africa and Senegal, as their efforts to address these challenges will no doubt set the example for others.

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber

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