Africa, the world’s richest region for renewable energy, must tap into its vast untapped resources to drive sustainable development and industrialization — this was the main message coming from fruitful discussions on the Africa Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS) during the recent Africa Climate Summit 2023 in Kenya. At over 5500 exajoules per year, Africa boasts 44.8% of the world’s total technical potential for renewable energy, making it the world’s richest region for renewable energy potential. To meet these demands, the speakers at the Africa Climate Summit 2023 called on African leaders to prioritize the goal of diversification of the continent’s energy sources, with a growing focus on renewable energy alongside fossil fuels, particularly natural gas. The Africa Climate Summit 2023 served as a platform for fruitful discussions on the AGMS and its potential to reshape the continent’s economic landscape. Speaking during the Africa Climate Week 2023 that was organized in parallel with the Africa Climate Summit, African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) Director, Marit Kitaw, noted that the continent needs to learn from the past and benefit from its own minerals before they are exported.
