- Experts underscored the urgent need for Africa to pursue energy access and emissions reduction simultaneously.
- CEO of AUKTIE emphasised that transparent, investment-friendly policies are essential for achieving zero trade-offs.
At the Africa Climate Forum panel session themed “Policy Dialogue: Zero Trade-Off Strategies for Managing Energy Access and Decarbonisation,” experts underscored the urgent need for Africa to pursue energy access and emissions reduction simultaneously.
They argued that with the right mix of policies, technology, and financing, the continent can close its energy gap while advancing a sustainable, low-carbon future.
Opening the discussion, Godfrey Ogbemudia, Programme Manager, Energy, Circular Economy and Climate Change at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, warned that Africa is running out of time to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (universal energy access) by 2030.
He observed that while many countries seek affordable energy for economic growth, some of their choices remain harmful to the climate.
However, Ogbemudia stressed that decarbonisation and energy access are not mutually exclusive. He highlighted that every tonne of emissions released today will impact generations for years to come, making it crucial to align both goals.
He further explained that countries like Nigeria—rich in gas and renewable resources—can leverage their unique endowments to design zero trade-off strategies that support gradual decarbonisation.
According to him, gas can serve as a transitional fuel before renewables reach maturity, provided that every nation tailors its approach to its available resources.
Similarly, Professor Patrick Ogunowo, CEO of AUKTIE, emphasised that transparent, investment-friendly policies are essential for achieving zero trade-offs. He proposed introducing clear mini-grid regulations to guarantee fair compensation when national grids expand into already-electrified areas.
Moreover, he called for streamlined approval systems, import duty waivers, and tax incentives for renewable energy components to encourage private sector participation.
Ogunowo also advocated for updated emission frameworks, integration of variable renewables, and carbon market participation, noting that policies must create an enabling environment where energy access and decarbonisation reinforce—rather than compete with—each other.
Transitioning to private-sector innovation, Tony Agbonkhese, Partner and Principal Consultant at Nerdia Connect Inc. and President of Africa+ Rain Cage, shared how his company collaborates with Canadian carbon capture firms to convert post-combustion emissions into valuable industrial materials like graphene and fluorine-based compounds.
He described this as a “win-win model” that reduces emissions while generating new revenue streams.
Additionally, Agbonkhese pointed to South Africa’s carbon tax policy as a model for incentivising companies to invest in renewable energy projects, urging other African countries, especially Nigeria, to introduce similar fiscal frameworks and tax breaks for decarbonisation technologies.
Furthermore, Dr Natasha Aduloju-Ajijola, CEO of Vitalera, reminded participants that Africa contributes less than 4 per cent of global emissions yet bears the brunt of energy poverty.
She argued that the debate should not be about choosing between energy access and decarbonisation, but about designing solutions that deliver both.
For millions across Africa, she explained, energy access means more than power; it represents dignity, opportunity, and inclusive growth.
Dr Aduloju-Ajijola insisted that with the right policy mix, innovation, and financing, Africa can close its energy gap while building resilient, low-carbon systems that support long-term sustainability.
Experts urged African governments, private investors, and development partners to adopt pragmatic, country-specific approaches that integrate energy access and decarbonisation efforts—ensuring the continent achieves both development today and sustainability tomorrow.