Coal, Gas Remain Key to Africa’s Energy Future Experts

SUN CITY, South Africa, Despite growing investment in renewable energy, experts at the Continental Energy and Infrastructure Investment Forum have stressed that coal, gas, and oil will continue to dominate Africa’s energy mix for the foreseeable future.

Delegates from South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Zambia, and Angola gathered in Sun City to deliberate on how the continent can balance its energy transition with economic realities.

Dr. Kevin Kemm, Chairperson of Stratek Global Advanced Solutions, cautioned against an overreliance on solar and wind energy, insisting that traditional resources remain critical to powering industries and driving growth.

“You’re not going to run an oil refinery or a mine on solar and wind. We must adopt a long-term vision for our energy future, just like in the past when coal-fired power stations were built over several years,” Kemm said.

Coaltech South Africa CEO, Avhurengwi Nengovhela, echoed the sentiment, arguing that Africa should prioritize the use of its abundant coal reserves instead of relying on foreign loans tied to renewable projects.

“As Africans, we are endowed with coal. We’ve mined it for 140 years. Why should we abandon our resources and expose over a million people to job losses just to chase loans from the West? We have the know-how and the means to power our future,” Nengovhela said.

While nuclear and renewable energy remain part of Africa’s diversification strategy, experts at the forum emphasized that fossil fuels would remain central to ensuring energy security, industrialization, and economic development.