Africa Could Become a ‘Renewable Superpower’, Says Guterres

Africa possesses the resources and potential to emerge as a “renewable superpower”, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared on Thursday, urging significant investment in green energy across the continent.

Guterres delivered his comments at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), a three-day event in Japan attended by African leaders. He stressed that: “We must mobilise finance and technology so that Africa’s natural wealth benefits African people. We must build a thriving renewables and manufacturing base across the continent.”

He highlighted the advantages of green energy in Africa:

• Lowering energy costs
• Diversifying supply chains
• Accelerating decarbonisation globally

China has invested heavily in Africa over the past decade, funding projects worth hundreds of billions of dollars in ports, railways, and roads through its Belt and Road Initiative.

However:

• New lending is declining
• African nations face a “tidal wave” of debt to China and private international creditors, according to the Lowy Institute
• Western aid has also decreased, particularly following US aid cuts under Donald Trump’s administration

Guterres warned: “Debt must not drown development.”

He called for:

• Increased concessional finance
• Greater lending capacity from multilateral development banks
• Expanded investment in climate solutions

Africa has abundant natural resources that can power renewable energy growth, including:

• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Critical minerals essential for emerging technologies

“Africa has everything it takes to become a renewable superpower,” Guterres said.

Key attendees at TICAD included:

Kenya’s President Ruto noted on social media platform X that the e-vehicles initiative reflects the country’s commitment to clean energy solutions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba outlined several initiatives during his opening address:

• Training 30,000 people in artificial intelligence in Africa over three years
• Exploring a Japan-Africa Economic Partnership
• Establishing a distribution network linking African and Indian Ocean nations

Ishiba’s proposals position Japan as an alternative development partner to China, providing expertise, technology, and investment rather than traditional aid.