Member Corner
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to face significant sustainable development challenges across all three interrelated dimensions: economic, social and environmental. These challenges are closely linked to low levels of energy consumption and reliance on carbon-intensive fuels. SSA accounts for only 2% of global primary energy consumption, while its per-capita energy consumption of just 9 GJ remains the lowest globally, compared with the global average of 73 GJ.
Against this backdrop, natural gas can play a critical role in advancing sustainable development in SSA by accelerating energy addition while facilitating a pragmatic, just and balanced low-carbon energy transition. The region’s abundant natural gas resources offer opportunities to expand reliable and affordable energy supplies, strengthen electricity generation, support industrialization and improve living standards. With lower CO₂ emissions per unit of energy than coal, oil and traditional biomass, which together account for 90% of SSA’s primary energy mix, natural gas can help reduce the environmental footprint of energy supply while providing flexible backup for intermittent renewable energy sources. Its strategic development can therefore contribute to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals through improved energy access, economic opportunities and a more sustainable energy system.
Read the full feature article “Strategic role of natural gas in advancing sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa”.