Economy

Experts highlight need to expand microgrids across Africa

Date: Jun 18, 2025

Energy experts have been focusing on the need to increase microgrids usage on the second day of the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, South Africa (SA).

This was the focus on the second day of the forum, which brings together key players in Africa’s energy sector.

Microgrids are described as small, local networks of electricity users that rely on a nearby source of supply. Their expansion is seen as vital for improving energy access, especially in remote and underserved communities.

SA is currently preparing to roll out 14 000 kilometres of new transmission lines over the next decade, under the newly established National Transmission Company of SA. The G20 working group is also targeting the electrification of 300 million households across Africa by 2030.

Chief Executive Officer of the SA National Energy Development Institute, Dr Titus Mathe, says the continent must go beyond electricity trading and focus on a broader energy market.

“We need to harmonise policies, we need to harmonise grid codes, there’s quite a lot that needs to happen,” said Mathe. “But we should not just be focusing on electricity trading. We must also focus on other commodities. For instance, trading on gas. Now there is a buzzword around critical minerals,  we need to be talking about that. How do we interconnect Africa to trade not only on electricity, but also on gas, oil, and other resources that need to be moved across borders?”

Mathe also called for policy reform to make regional co-operation easier, “We may need to liberalise immigration rules so that we are able to move people from one country to another.”

--ChannelAfrica--

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