G20-CwA 2023 in Berlin / President Faure Gnassingbé calls for access to sustainable energy in Africa
President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, leaders of reformist African countries, the German Chancellor, and European investors convened on November 20, 2023, in Berlin for the 4th G20 Compact with Africa (G20-CwA) Summit.
The conference, held in a context of diverse and multifaceted crises, aims to develop mutually beneficial and sustainable public-private partnerships. As a guest of honor on the panel focusing on energy supply and trade and investment opportunities in African emerging markets, President Faure Gnassingbé provided an unvarnished assessment of energy availability on the continent, particularly in its sub-Saharan region.
He highlighted the constraints for equitable access to sustainable energy, emphasizing increased demand, demographic pressure, and inadequate production infrastructures.
«On the continent, access to sustainable energy is one of the issues we face. This is primarily due to demand but also demographic pressure. We need this energy; we also need production, transport, and distribution infrastructures that remain inadequate», he explained.
The President revisited the energy situation in Togo. Apart from the lack of available funding, which is common to almost all African countries, he mentioned constraints mainly related to the unequal distribution of resources between urban and rural areas.
«In African countries, we have a relatively high access rate in urban areas compared to rural areas where the rate is very low. In Togo, we have 66% access to electricity in urban areas compared to 27% in rural areas. In these areas, biomass is used for daily needs, which is an environmental pollution source», emphasized the head of state.
To address these situations, President Faure Gnassingbé urged African countries, especially G20-Compact with Africa member states, to strengthen the investment capacities of the public sector and create opportunities that could serve as a catalyst for private investments
Justine AKO.
