Morocco’s Minister advocates for innovative approaches to electrify Africa

DAR ES SALAAM: MINISTER of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development for the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr Leila Benali has called for innovative and col laborative approaches to electrify Africa, improve energy access and foster sustainable development across the continent.

Speaking yesterday dur ing the Africa Head of State Energy Summit, Dr Benali said there is an urgent need to reform financing models, strengthen regional connec tivity and leverage Africa’s potential as a global energy hub.

“We are gathered here not only because we want to electrify Africa or because we believe in Africa’s future, but we are also here because we are reaching a milestone in our journey, one that demands action able projects, capacity build.

Highlighting Morocco’s geopolitical and energy strategies, Dr Benali said the im portance of regional energy connectivity is a driver of economic, social and political stability. Last week, Morocco signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mauritania to develop an electricity interconnection. This is part of Morocco’s broader vision of creating an Atlantic Corridor to unlock Africa’s growth potential, she said. ing and innovative financing mechanisms,” Dr Benali said.

She outlined the critical role of financing in addressing Africa’s energy challenges, urging stakeholders to move beyond traditional methods of funding projects.

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She called for the development of bankable projects to be financed by 2025, highlighting the importance of power plants, green ship ping fuels, pipelines and grid expansion to meet the continent’s growing energy needs.

Adapting business models to focus on local, distributed generation and technology flexibility, she noted, is essential for fast-tracking electrification programmes.

She said Morocco’s own success in rural electrification reaching 99.8 per cent was cited as an example of overcoming the last mile challenge, often the most difficult and costly stage of energy ac power generation by three.

She said the country has also prioritised local industrial content, mandating a minimum of 30 per cent for renewable projects.

Drawing on 30 years of experience in attracting private capital and structuring bankable energy projects, Morocco aims to facilitate sustainable energy develop ment across Africa.

The focus includes developing technologies for batteries, storage and grid management while fostering collaboration between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic basin. Dr Benali echoed calls for reforming multilateral finan cial institutions to address Africa’s energy financing needs.

Citing a statement by His Majesty King Mohammed VI during the World Bank and IMF annual meetings in Mar rakesh, she underscored the pressing need to overhaul development financing to meet 21st-century challenges.

Morocco’s approach includes providing guarantees and risk-sharing mechanisms to reduce perceived risks in energy investments, particularly in Africa. Morocco’s ambition extends to creating what Dr Be nali described as an OTC corridor, Originate, Transit and Certify.