The future of Africa’s energy landscape is under intense scrutiny at the ongoing 12th African Think Tanks Summit in Cotonou, Benin. As the three-day event enters its final day, policymakers, economists, and development partners are locked in heated discussions over how to turn the continent’s energy access improvements into tangible economic gains. The summit, which runs from October 28 to 30, 2026, has become a focal point for debate on whether Africa can harness its power potential to fuel industrialization, job creation, and sustainable development.
The summit’s focus on practical policy pathways for electricity sector reform reflects growing concerns over the disconnect between energy access and economic transformation. While millions of Africans have gained grid connections in recent years, critics argue these gains have not translated into measurable improvements in productivity, competitiveness, or living standards. The question now dominating the Cotonou discussions is stark: how can Africa move beyond bare electrification to create energy systems that actively drive growth?
Energy access alone isn’t enough: the case for productive electricity
The summit’s central theme, “From energy access to economic transformation,” underscores a critical realization among African leaders: electricity must serve as more than just a household amenity. For energy to catalyze development, it must power industries, enhance agricultural productivity, and enable the growth of small businesses—the true engines of job creation.
Key challenges identified include:
- Reliability gaps: Frequent blackouts and unstable supply undermine industrial operations, particularly in manufacturing and agribusiness sectors.
- Cost barriers: High tariffs price out small enterprises, stifling entrepreneurship and formal job creation.
- Infrastructure mismatches: Many national grids remain ill-equipped to handle the demands of modern economic activity, from digital services to advanced manufacturing.
Delegates are questioning whether the continent’s current approach to energy investment—often prioritizing large-scale projects over decentralized solutions—is sustainable in the long term. The debate has intensified calls for regulatory reforms that would make electricity more affordable, accessible, and aligned with economic realities.
Institutional weaknesses threaten energy-led growth
The capacity of African institutions to implement and sustain energy reforms has emerged as a major flashpoint at the summit. Mamadou Biteye, Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), emphasized that even well-designed policies will fail without strong governance frameworks, technical expertise, and coordination among stakeholders.
Critical institutional hurdles include:
- Fragmented regulation: Overlapping responsibilities between national energy commissions, utilities, and regional bodies create inefficiencies and deter investment.
- Skill shortages: Many countries lack professionals trained in modern energy systems, grid management, and renewable energy integration.
- Financing gaps: Public budgets alone cannot cover the continent’s energy transformation needs, but private investors remain hesitant due to perceived risks.
Participants are pushing for stronger regional cooperation to harmonize energy policies, share best practices, and pool resources for cross-border projects. The African Union’s involvement in the summit signals growing recognition of energy as a continental priority—not just a national one.
Local action takes center stage in Cotonou’s energy debate
While the summit’s debates often focus on macroeconomic strategies, the impact of energy access plays out most vividly at the local level. In Cotonou, Mayor Luc Gnacadja highlighted how reliable electricity underpins urban development, from powering hospitals and schools to enabling small traders and artisans to operate after dark.
Local governments face unique challenges, including:
- Urban-rural divides: Many cities benefit from better infrastructure, while rural areas lag far behind in both access and quality.
- Informal economies: A significant portion of economic activity in African cities relies on decentralized energy solutions, yet these are rarely integrated into national planning.
- Service delivery: Municipal governments struggle to maintain public services when electricity costs fluctuate unpredictably, affecting everything from water pumping to public transport.
The summit’s emphasis on territorial approaches reflects a growing consensus: Africa’s energy transition must be inclusive, addressing both national ambitions and local realities.
What’s next for Africa’s power revolution?
As the Cotonou summit draws to a close, delegates are tasked with translating debate into action. The final days will focus on developing concrete recommendations for policymakers, including:
- Prioritizing productive use of energy: Redirecting investments toward sectors that generate jobs and economic value, such as agro-processing and light manufacturing.
- Reforming tariff structures: Implementing time-of-use pricing and subsidies to make electricity more affordable for businesses and low-income households.
- Strengthening regional markets: Creating cross-border energy trading mechanisms to balance supply and demand across the continent.
- Investing in human capital: Expanding vocational training programs to build a workforce capable of managing modern energy systems.
The ultimate test for the summit’s outcomes will be whether African governments can follow through on these commitments. With billions of dollars in energy investments at stake and millions of livelihoods hanging in the balance, the pressure is on to ensure that the continent’s power resources become a driver—not a barrier—to progress.
For now, Cotonou stands as a microcosm of Africa’s energy conundrum: a continent rich in resources but struggling to turn them into sustainable prosperity. The decisions made here in the coming days could shape the trajectory of Africa’s economic future for decades to come.