NEWS

The European Commission has announced a €618 million Team Europe package aimed at fast-tracking Africa’s shift toward renewable energy, marking a major milestone in the continent’s clean energy transition.

The announcement was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, co-hosted with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and coordinated by the international advocacy organization Global Citizen. The initiative forms part of the “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign, designed to mobilize both public and private investment in clean energy projects across the continent.

Africa holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources, making it one of the most promising regions for renewable energy development. The European Union’s Global Gateway investment strategy aims to unlock this potential by funding energy generation, transmission, and cross-border electricity trade projects — fostering industrial growth, job creation, and climate resilience.

The newly announced funding will support projects across several African nations, including:

1. Kenya (€55 million): Expansion of the green electricity system to strengthen generation and transmission for households and businesses.

2. Uganda (€60 million): Last-mile electrification to deliver power to rural communities, benefiting over 250,000 people.

3. Democratic Republic of Congo (€90.14 million): Electrification of Kisangani and surrounding regions to improve reliability and stimulate local economic growth.

4. Mauritania (€125 million): Development of a regional transmission corridor to serve growing urban populations.

5. Nigeria (€20 million): Technical assistance for scaling renewable energy solutions for farmers and small enterprises.

6. Cabo Verde (€39 million): Expansion of the Cabeolica wind and battery storage project.

7. Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector (€30 million): Strengthening regional power exchange and drought resilience between Southern and Eastern Africa.

8. Togo (€199 million): Renewable energy and storage project in Kpalimé to boost generation capacity and reliability.

In addition to these country-level initiatives, the EU reaffirmed its commitment under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with South Africa, reinforcing collaboration on sustainable energy development.