Tag: EnergyPolicy

While South Africa committed to significantly decarbonise its energy mix by 2030 in 2021, progress started slowly. However, momentum increased at the start of this year. Both President Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address and the recent National Budget placed strong emphasis on energy reform. At the same time, the Department of Electricity and Energy has announced a timeline for wholesale market phasing.

Global fuel market dynamics play an enormous role in determining fuel prices. Global oil price volatility strongly influences these dynamics. Supply and demand remain highly relevant. They influence what the global market will pay for a barrel of oil. They also shape perceptions of shortages. In turn, these perceptions can trigger buying sprees that push prices higher.

Today, just over 60% of Nigerians have access to grid-connected electricity. Even those who do often endure erratic service. The country’s National Bureau of Statistics reports that the average daily supply stands at less than seven hours. Yet, as Albert Einstein famously said: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”. In Nigeria’s case, the convergence of renewable energy, digital innovation and Software as a Service (SaaS) can establish an energy landscape built on reliability and long-term sustainability.

Across the African continent, one topic increasingly dominates conversations in boardrooms, parliaments and everyday households - energy. When the grid fails, and the lights go out, the consequences cascade through industry, education, health services and family life. Energy has therefore moved beyond being a purely economic matter.