Africa’s power grid with transmission towers illuminated by the setting sun, highlighting grid improvements.
Africa’s appetite for electricity picked up sharply in 2025, with power demand rising 5.2%, up from 4% the previous year, according to the International Energy Agency. The surge was largely driven by improved supply in South Africa, where better grid maintenance and repaired coal plants delivered an impressive 161 consecutive days of uninterrupted power supply. At the same time, Kenya and Senegal made notable strides toward universal electricity access, fueled by rapid urban and industrial growth. Looking ahead, renewable energy sources, alongside nuclear and natural gas, are set to power most of the continent’s future growth, while fossil fuel power generation is projected to decline. Still, the IEA cautions that supply bottlenecks in major economies, including Nigeria and Kenya, could threaten progress if new capacity fails to keep pace with rising demand.
Semafor