Africa accelerates infrastructure push amid global energy pressures

Amid global energy disruptions and rising infrastructure demands, African leaders are pushing to fast-track transport and energy projects to reduce external dependence and strengthen regional integration.

Policymakers and experts are convening in Johannesburg for the African Union's Specialized Technical Committee on Transport and Energy, to accelerate implementation of key continental initiatives under Agenda 2063.

African Union officials said the shift reflects growing urgency to move from planning to delivery, as infrastructure gaps and external shocks continue to weigh on the continent's growth prospects.

"This session is convened at a defining moment for our continent," said Kamugisha Kazaura, director for infrastructure and energy at the African Union commission. "There is growing recognition that resilient transport systems and sustainable energy infrastructure are the backbone of economic transformation, regional integration, and industrial development."

Kazaura emphasized that Africa's next phase of growth will depend on its ability to move beyond planning toward effective implementation, supported by stronger partnerships, improved project preparation, and sustainable financing mechanisms.

The push comes as African economies grapple with rising energy demand, infrastructure deficits, and global supply chain disruptions, prompting leaders to prioritize investments that can power industries, connect markets, and support intra-African trade.

He added that heightened global energy market volatility, including tensions in the Middle East affecting key supply routes, underscore Africa's vulnerability to external shocks and reinforce calls for greater energy independence.

At the heart of the discussion is the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, or PIDA, particularly its Second Priority Action Plan, which outlines key transport and energy projects to be implemented across the continent between 2025 and 2027.

Officials said improving project preparation, accelerating delivery, and mobilizing financing – including climate funding and private-sector investment – are now central to ensuring these plans translate into tangible outcomes.

Reducing dependence, strengthening resilience

The renewed focus on implementation comes as geopolitical developments continue to expose Africa's reliance on external energy systems.

Robert Tama Lisinge, from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said diversifying energy sources will be critical to reducing that dependence.

He warned that tensions in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, are disrupting critical supply routes, affecting the flow of petroleum products to African countries, and driving up fuel prices in markets such as Nigeria.

"I think we have seen, in different parts of the world, some measures that countries have taken, from flexible working hours to minimizing the use of vehicles, to reduce fuel consumption during shortages," he said.

He added that while oil and gas will remain part of Africa's energy mix, greater investment in alternative sources will be essential.

"We need to diversify our source of energy," Lisinge said. "We should move beyond just oil and gas. That could still constitute a part of the mix, but we must look at alternative sources."

Subesh Pillay, acting director-general of South Africa's Department of Electricity and Energy, said the continent must take a long-term approach to resilience.

"The question the continent must answer is whether we are optimizing our natural resources to build African resilience, so that when global shocks occur, we can stand on our own," Pillay said.

Key initiatives under discussion include the African Single Electricity Market, which is aimed at enabling cross-border electricity trade, and major renewable projects, such as the Grand Inga hydropower initiative.

Delegates are also exploring emerging opportunities in green hydrogen, geothermal energy, mini-grids, and nuclear power as part of efforts to expand access to reliable and sustainable energy.

Connecting markets through transport

Alongside energy, improving transport connectivity remains a core pillar of the continent's development strategy.

Officials are reviewing progress in aviation, maritime, rail, and road sectors, including plans to strengthen air cargo networks, address infrastructure gaps, and promote environmentally sustainable transport systems.

These efforts are seen as essential to unlocking the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area by reducing trade costs and facilitating the movement of goods and services across borders.

"Transport and energy infrastructure is not the engine of prosperity. It is the circulatory system that enables industrialization and entrepreneurship to function," said Amine Idriss Adoum, director for infrastructure, industrialization, trade and regional integration at African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development, or AUDA-NEPAD.

He said the emphasis on delivery marks a turning point in Africa's infrastructure agenda, with greater focus on coordination among governments, regional blocs, and development partners adding that accelerating infrastructure delivery will be key to sustaining economic growth and improving livelihoods across Africa.

The meeting, which runs from April 27 to April 30 in Johannesburg, is expected to conclude with a ministerial declaration, with officials emphasizing that the real test will be translating commitments into projects that can drive growth, strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods across the continent.