Africa and Energy: A Case Study of Four Countries

By 2050, Africa will have a population of close to 2.5 billion people, compared to 1.2 billion in 2016. One out of four of the world’s citizens will be African. The continent still faces serious problems, such as malnutrition, poor education and health risks, but many of its 54 countries continue to experience strong growth. These two factors mean that Africa’s energy consumption will practically double by 2035. While this is a challenge, it is also an opportunity to make Africa “the continent of the future”. This case study looks at four countries – Egypt (North Africa), South Africa (Southern Africa), Kenya (East Africa) and Nigeria (West Africa) – each with its own specific characteristics.