Africa must seize control of its clean energy future
FATUMA SAID -PCO
Africa must take bold ownership of its energy destiny, moving beyond the role of raw material supplier to become a central player in global clean energy value chains.
This was the rallying call from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi, during the Clean Energy Conference Australia–Africa 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Delivering the keynote address under the theme “Advancing a Sustainable Future through Clean Energy, Climate Innovation and Critical Minerals for a Just, Inclusive Transition,” Wandayi urged African nations to position them selves at the heart of man ufacturing, processing, and investment in clean energy.
Other keynote speakers included Rwanda’s State Minister for Infrastructure, Armand Zingiro, and Steve Kuria, Executive Chairman of the Australia–Kenya Chamber of Commerce.
Wandayi noted that the global energy landscape has shifted dramatically, with energy security now a pillar of national security amid geopolitical realignments, supply chain disruptions, and rising demand for crit ical minerals.
“Africa must define its own energy transition pathway—one that reflects our development priorities while remaining com mitted to global climate objectives.
The transition should expand energy access, accelerate indus trialization, create jobs, and drive inclusive economic growth,” he said.
Kenya’s leadership in renewable energy was high lighted, with 93 percent of its electricity generated from geothermal, hydro power, wind, and solar; making it one of Africa’s cleanest energy systems.
Wandayi underscored geothermal energy as Kenya’s most strategic asset, powering not only electricity but also green hydrogen, industrial parks, agriculture, data centers, and electric mobility.
He emphasized Africa’s vast reserves of critical min erals as a springboard for regional value chains in battery manufacturing, renewable technologies, and electric mobility.
He called for invest ment in mineral benef icence, technology transfer, skills devel opment, and regional manufacturing under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Recognizing Africa’s vulnerability to climate change despite con tributing less than four percent of global emis sions, Wandayi urged development partners to expand access to afforda ble climate finance through blended models, concessional funding, private sector invest ment, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
He also stressed regional energy integration through interconnected grids, harmonized regulations, and cross-border power trade, citing initiatives such as the Eastern Africa Power Pool and AfCFTA as foundations for an integrated energy marketplace.