Publication date: June 2025
Authors: Boston Consulting Group
Description: Africa's future prosperity depends on rapidly expanding energy access – a cornerstone for economic and social development.
- Over 600 million Africans still lack electricity, representing >80% of the global energy access gap.
- Achieving universal energy access by 2030 requires catalytic funding: while $50 billion has been pledged, actual needs exceed $180 billion, demanding innovative financing and private-sector engagement.
- Accelerating energy access could deliver immense benefits, including over $500 billion in GDP gains by 2040, millions of new jobs, improved health and education outcomes, and significant climate benefits.
- We have identified five critical levers for the next 5 years to navigate this complexity and unlock the opportunities that lie in widespread energy access.
