• 16 African countries and two regional blocs are implementing energy data reforms under an African Union programme launched in Dakar.

• Over 600 million Africans lack access to electricity, according to the International Energy Agency.

• Weak energy statistics continue to undermine fiscal planning, power-sector reforms and investment decisions, according to the World Bank and AfDB.

African energy officials meeting in Dakar between December 17 and 19 launched a new set of national diagnostic reports and five-year action plans aimed at strengthening energy data systems, as African economies continue to face electricity shortages, rising energy costs and constrained infrastructure investment.

The programme, coordinated by the African Energy Commission (AFREC), expands support to 16 additional African Union member states and two regional economic communities, following a first phase that covered ten countries. According to AFREC, the initiative focuses on improving National and Regional Energy Information Systems (NEIS/REIS) to address persistent gaps in energy statistics used for policy formulation and investment planning.

Data deficiencies remain a structural issue across Africa’s energy sector. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to electricity in 2023, while power consumption per capita remains among the lowest globally. The IEA and the World Bank have both noted that incomplete or outdated energy data complicates demand forecasting, generation planning and grid expansion.

The World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) reports that several African countries publish national energy balances irregularly or with multi-year delays, limiting governments’ ability to accurately assess fuel imports, electricity losses and subsidy costs. Inconsistent statistics between utilities, customs authorities and finance ministries further weaken policy coordination.

According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), energy-sector inefficiencies continue to place pressure on public finances. Power-sector losses, fuel subsidies and under-recovery of tariffs account for a significant share of quasi-fiscal deficits in several African economies, particularly where state-owned utilities operate without reliable operational and financial data.

Regional power trade is also affected. The AfDB and World Bank note that Africa’s power pools operate well below potential, partly due to unreliable data on generation capacity, transmission constraints and cross-border demand. Countries participating in the current phase include Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, Chad, Tunisia and Togo, alongside ECCAS and SADC, regions where power integration has been slowed by planning uncertainties.

Investment flows remain limited despite large energy needs. According to the IEA’s World Energy Investment 2024 report, Africa received less than 5% of global clean energy investment, with data quality cited among the factors increasing project risk and financing costs. Lenders typically require consistent historical data on demand, grid performance and fuel supply before committing capital.

The diagnostic reports launched in Dakar identify institutional, technical and capacity gaps in national energy statistics offices and outline priority reforms needed to produce standardized, regular and internationally comparable energy data. According to AFREC, the action plans are intended to support planning for energy access expansion, industrial development, regional power trade and energy transition strategies.

As African governments face tight fiscal conditions and rising debt burdens, institutions including the IMF and AfDB have increasingly emphasized the role of credible sector data in improving public investment efficiency and attracting private capital into infrastructure.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang