At the 2014 World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, African leaders – in particular, ministers of power and finance – recognised the importance of energy in driving socio-economic development. They thus committed to prioritise the implementation of energy infrastructure projects on the continent.
The APV “From Vision to Action” initiative builds on the objectives of the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). Developed by the African Union Commission (AUC), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), PIDA promotes regional economic integration in order to close Africa’s massive infrastructure gap. PIDA has fifty one (51) programs and projects across four (4) sectors: energy, transport, trans-boundary water, and information and communications technology. Endorsed by African heads of state in January 2012, the programme strives to improve Africa’s global competitiveness with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of ordinary Africans.
Concentrating on one of the four key infrastructure sectors of PIDA, the APV is a continent-wide, long-term vision to increase access to reliable and affordable energy for Africans. It is designed to achieve agreement among African leaders as to which energy projects to prioritise for accelerated implementation.
Using the PIDA Priority Action Plan (PIDA PAP) projects as a foundation, African ministers have made the following pledge in launching the APV:
“As the continent’s Ministers of Power and Finance, we commit to the Africa Power Vision. We will build on the Energy Vision as articulated by the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa:
To harness all African energy resources to ensure access to modern energy for all African households, businesses and industries by developing efficient, reliable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy infrastructure resulting in poverty eradication and vigorous sustainable development of the continent.”
The APV has a five-pillar strategy. Taken together, these pillars will drive the continent’s economic growth while improving the quality of life for all Africans. The pillars are bolstered by a commitment to the skills revolution, while also ensuring that the enabling environment is appropriately developed. The pillars are:
- Pillar 1 – Leverage Domestic Energy Resources
- Pillar 2 – Drive GDP Growth with Electrification
- Pillar 3 – Scale up Through Regional Integration
- Pillar 4 – Run Assets Efficiently
- Pillar 5 – Mobilise all Available Resources
Wind Projects
- Boulenouar Wind Power Project
Solar Projects
- Desertec Sahara Solar Project
Geothermal Projects
- Baringo-Silali Geothermal Field
Hydro Projects
- Batoka Gorge Hydropower Project
- Inga III Basse Chute (BC) Hydropower Project
- Sambangalou Hydropower Project
Gas Projects
- West Africa Power Pool: Domunli Regional Power Project
- West Africa Power Pool: Maria Gleta Regional Power Project
- Ghana 1000 LNG to Power Project
Gas Pipelines
- Nigeria-Algeria Gas Pipeline
Transmission Lines
- Central African Interconnection Transmission Line Project
- North South Transmission Line Project
- Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya Transmission Line Project
