Delivering reliable, affordable electricity across Africa remains one of the continent’s toughest challenges. An African Business feature, “Rising to the Challenges of Electrification in Africa,” captured this reality vividly, exploring the complex mix of financial, logistical, and social barriers that continue to limit access to energy for hundreds of millions of people.
Access to electricity is about much more than lighting homes. It means refrigeration for food and medicine, reliable power for schools and hospitals, and the ability for businesses to thrive. Yet, according to the International Monetary Fund, nearly 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, roughly around half the continent’s population.
Energy leaders across the continent agree that electrification is the key to economic transformation. Research by the World Bank consistently shows a strong correlation between energy access and GDP growth, not simply because of industrial gains, but because of the opportunities energy creates for individuals and communities, As African Business reported.
Infinity Power believes this correlation is no coincidence. Reliable energy is the foundation of modern economies, powering businesses, hospitals, and schools while improving household well-being. The relationship is mutually reinforcing: economic growth increases energy demand and access to energy fuels growth by creating jobs and boosting productivity. Our vision is rooted in creating connections that power economies and empower people, driving growth from the ground up.
Africa is uniquely positioned to leapfrog the fossil-fuel-dependent path followed by many developed economies. As Don’t Gas Africa noted in the same article, the continent’s limited dependence on fossil infrastructure is an advantage, not a limitation. It creates space to adopt renewable energy solutions that are more sustainable, cost-effective, and adaptable to local conditions.
With 60% of the world’s best solar resources and vast wind potential- according to the International Energy Agency, Africa has everything it needs to become a global leader in clean energy generation.
Access to finance is one of the most pressing issues facing the sector. Africa currently attracts only 3% of global energy investment, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), despite representing nearly one-fifth of the world’s population.
Africa’s total external public debt has almost tripled since 2009, forcing many countries to divert resources from essential public services to debt servicing. Traditional public funding alone cannot meet the continent’s growing energy demand. Many governments are constrained by rising debt pressures that limit their ability to finance new infrastructure. This reality underscores the need for innovative financial structures, greater private sector participation, and partnerships that help de-risk renewable investments.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), achieving universal access and meeting future energy needs will require a significant increase in investment, with private capital playing a central role in bridging the gap.
Aware of this reality, our recent USD 372 million refinancing deal with Absa Corporate and Investment Banking demonstrates how large-scale renewable projects in Africa can be structured to attract long-term private capital while strengthening local financial markets.
Beyond technology and finance, another truth we live by every day: success in renewable energy depends on people. Infinity Power’s Chairman, Mohamed Ismail Mansour, shared in the article:
“You definitely have to get local communities involved, otherwise there is no project. It is not an issue, but a blessing if you do the right thing. We really try to do more than just tick boxes.”
We believe that community inclusion is not a corporate requirement, it’s a cornerstone of sustainable development. Across our projects, we prioritise local hiring, skills training, and social investment to ensure that the benefits of our work extend far beyond the construction site.
“On one occasion we fought very hard against lenders to hire workers from the town as cooking staff on site.” Mohamed Ismail Mansour
Mr. Mansour’s decision built trust and strengthened relationships with the locals. Strong community ties ensure that projects are not just accepted but supported. They also enable us to respond quickly and effectively when challenges arise.
“On another occasion we woke up to find that a cable roll had gone missing. We didn’t call the police: we called one of the elders from the nearby village. Within three hours, the cable was returned.” Mohamed Ismail Mansour
As the story illustrates, collaboration and respect can resolve issues more efficiently than enforcement ever could.
Infrastructure development in Africa presents unique logistical hurdles. Building renewable projects often requires moving massive equipment across remote terrain, overcoming limited road networks, and working without access to advanced construction tools. Our strategy aims to combine global engineering expertise with local problem solving, ensuring that even in the most remote areas, our projects are delivered safely, on time, and to the highest standards of quality and sustainability.
Each challenge we faced in construction reinforced a key lesson: success in Africa’s renewable energy transition will not come from replicating foreign models, but from adapting solutions to African realities. As the continent’s population doubles by 2050, the demand for electricity will soar. The opportunity and responsibility to build a cleaner, more resilient power system has never been greater.