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Beneath the Surface: How Zambia’s Mining Disaster Exposes the Human Cost of the Energy Transition
On a quiet morning last month, disaster struck in Zambia’s Copperbelt. A tailings dam at a Chinese-owned copper mine burst, releasing toxic sludge into the Kafue River. Communities downstream woke to...
Mission 300: Africa's Power Surge or Just Another Mirage?
Africa stands on the edge of an electrification revolution. The Mission 300 project, launched at the 2025 Sustainable Energy Dialogue, aims to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by...
Africa's New Scramble: The High Cost of Critical Minerals Without Justice
I once stood at a dusty roadside in Kolwezi, in the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s copper and cobalt belt, watching young boys haul sacks of ore barely larger than themselves. Their bare...
Green Goals, Grey Areas: The Politics of China-Africa Energy Relations
A few years ago, during a civil society exchange in Nairobi, a Kenyan energy advocate told me something that has stayed with me: “We’ve got panels. We’ve got Chinese engineers. But what we don’t have...
The Green Energy Lie? Why Africa’s Oil and Gas Licenses Just Hit a 10-Year High
Across Africa, oil and gas licensing is experiencing a sharp resurgence — even as the global chorus for climate action grows louder. According to Energy Capital & Power, more than 150 oil and gas...
Powering Europe, Darkening Africa? The New Scramble for African Renewables
In 2025, as Europe scrambles to meet its climate goals and reduce dependence on Russian energy, a new frontier has emerged in the global race for clean power: Africa. Last month, Egypt and Greece...
Pledges and Power Cuts: How Climate Finance Is Failing Africa
The promises came wrapped in billion-dollar ribbons. At COP summits, in glossy brochures, and during press conferences, world leaders pledged hundreds of billions for Africa’s clean energy future....
We Dig, They Win: How Africa's Raw Mineral Exports and Currency Chaos Are Undermining a Just Transition
Every day, truckloads of lithium, cobalt, and manganese leave African soil headed for China, Europe, and North America. These are the building blocks of the energy transition—used in solar panels,...
Africa Can’t Afford Another Raw Deal: Why Value Addition Must Power the Green Transition
The African Development Bank (AfDB) recently sent a clear message: Africa must stop exporting raw critical minerals and start building local value chains. As someone deeply involved in the...
Africa’s Forgotten 400 Million: Why Energy Poverty Is a Climate Injustice
I grew up in Cross River State, Nigeria, where dense forests meet vibrant communities. Even today, when I return home, I am struck by the reality that many of the villages I once played in as a child...
Fossil Fuel Freedom: Why Nigeria Must Ditch Oil to Secure Its Future
In the heart of Lagos, the rhythmic hum of generators underscores a national narrative: Nigeria's deep-rooted dependence on oil. For decades, this black gold has been the cornerstone of our economy,...
Leapfrogging to Renewables: Ensuring Africa's Energy Transition Leaves No One Behind
As Africa stands on the brink of an energy revolution, the continent faces a pivotal question: Can we leapfrog to renewable energy without leaving anyone behind? The promise of bypassing traditional...