Algeria ranks among the few African countries to have achieved near-100% electricity and gas access rates, thanks to “robust” public policies and solid energy infrastructure, according to a report of the African Energy Commission (AFREC).
“Algeria has maintained 100% energy access despite population growth, primarily due to its well-established energy infrastructure and sustained public subsidies. The country’s developed energy supply chain and the Algerian government’s commitment have enabled new households to seamlessly integrate into modern energy systems,” the African Union (AU) agency emphasized in the document focused on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7).
The report highlighted Algeria’s significant accomplishments in electricity and natural gas access, which are viewed as essential components and critical drivers of sustainable development, economic growth and improved living standards.
Across North Africa, Algeria stands out among its neighbors with nearly 100% electricity access and over 90% coverage for clean cooking in households, thanks to “well-structured subsidy programs and an efficient distribution network,” AFREC reported.
Regarding renewable energy, AFREC commended Algeria’s progress while underlining the challenges of expanding the renewable energy share and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
At the continental level, Africa’s electrification rate has reached 61%, yet nearly 563 million people, primarily in rural and peri-urban areas, still lack electricity access, especially in East, West and Central Africa, where only 28% of the population is connected, according to the report.
Access to clean cooking solutions remains a major challenge for African countries, with just 35% of the population using such technologies, while over 940 million people continue to rely on polluting fuels.
AFREC also underlined the difficulty of access to financing, which remains “a major obstacle” to achieving the objective of modern and sustainable energy for all in Africa.
The agency estimates that USD50 billion in annual investment is needed to reach universal electricity access by 2030, with an additional USD4 billion per year required for clean cooking solutions.
In this regard, AFREC called for greater investment mobilization, particularly through robust public-private partnerships, to close the funding gap.
