China key partner in Africa's green transition

China has become a pivotal partner in the development of Africa's energy and power sectors, and is actively promoting a green and low-carbon transition across the continent, according to industry data and officials.

Energy and electricity have emerged as key areas of practical cooperation between China and Africa, yielding significant achievements that propel the continent's transition toward a greener, low-carbon future, said Yang Kun, executive vice-chairman of the China Electricity Council.

This robust engagement has not only addressed critical energy deficits but has also positioned the power sector as a prominent feature of, and a source of notable achievements in, Sino-African practical cooperation, he said.

According to data released by the council, Chinese power companies have so far constructed 66,000 kilometers of power transmission and transformation lines in Africa, as well as numerous advanced and environmentally friendly energy projects.

These projects span over 40 African countries and regions, adding a total of 120 gigawatts of installed power capacity.

Notably, since the start of China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Chinese entities have undertaken approximately 80 solar photovoltaic, wind power, and hydropower projects in 28 African nations, including Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, said Xu Guangbin, director of the International Cooperation Department at the council.

These renewable energy projects account for more than 50 percent of the total energy projects undertaken by China in Africa during this period, providing crucial support to alleviate energy shortages and combat climate change on the continent, Xu said.

According to the council, major Chinese power companies have cumulatively completed 144 projects with an investment value exceeding $30 million each in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative since 2013, totaling around $26.2 billion.

They have also signed approximately 1,306 power engineering contracts worth $207.266 billion, it said.

Specifically, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Chinese power companies have invested $272 million in Africa's power sector and signed 154 new engineering contracts with a total value of $24.578 billion.

This accounts for 20.8 percent of the total value of newly signed overseas contracts, making a significant contribution to Africa's energy infrastructure development and sustainable growth, said Yang.

As the world's largest producer and supplier of solar cells and modules, China, with rich experience and advanced technologies in the photovoltaic energy sector, has helped deepen cooperation between China and Africa, according to global consultancy Rystad Energy.

The consultancy said while China's initial energy investments on the continent were largely concentrated in major hydroelectric and coal-based power plants, there has been a noticeable recent trend toward the development of solar energy projects.

Chinese investments in Africa's renewable energy sector have been growing at a rapid pace in recent years, it said.

Chinese solar firms have cultivated extensive marketing networks, strong local workforces, and effective customer support services over time. These established capabilities have positioned them to effectively address the increasing energy needs and varied uses within the African market.

Since 2021, Longi Green Energy Technology, for example, has directly supplied over 1 gigawatt of PV modules to more than 30 African countries. These modules are used across various sectors including national power grids, industry, commerce, agriculture, hospitals, schools, and public utilities.

According to the council, the cooperation mechanisms between China and African countries are also continuously improving. To date, China has signed memorandums of understanding on Belt and Road Initiative cooperation with over 50 African nations, establishing multiple new platforms for international energy cooperation under the initiative.

These platforms actively facilitate energy information and experience sharing, skills training, technical research consulting, and project planning, yielding notable results, it said.