Nairobi: Despite Africa holding some of the world’s largest untapped energy resources, from vast solar reserves to enormous hydropower potential, millions across the continent are still plagued by unreliable electricity supply and persistent power outages due to underinvestment in power grid infrastructure. This was the key message delivered by Philippe Piron, the President, Electrification, and CEO for Grid Solutions and Power Conversion and Storage de GE VERNOVA, during the opening day of the Africa Forward Summit 2026 held at the University of Nairobi.
According to Kenya News Agency, Piron addressed delegates comprising policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, engineers, and development leaders. He argued that Africa’s next economic transformation will depend not only on generating electricity but on building the transmission and digital infrastructure capable of moving power efficiently across borders, industrial plants, and cities. The Africa Forward Summit, a high-level Kenya-France partnership initiative co-hosted by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, serves as a key platform for strengthening Africa’s global partnerships through investment, innovation, and sustainable development.
Held under the theme ‘Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,’ the summit aims to redefine cooperation between Africa and France through practical, action-driven partnerships focused on economic transformation and shared growth. Amplifying the unexploited opportunities, Piron described Africa as uniquely positioned at the intersection of the world’s future energy and digital economies. He cited Africa’s enormous untapped resources, noting that the continent holds nearly 60 percent of the world’s best solar potential. The Sahara alone, he said, receives enough solar energy every six hours to theoretically power the entire world for a year.
Piron highlighted the Congo River Basin’s potential to generate more than 100 gigawatts of hydropower, while countries including Nigeria, Angola, Algeria, and Libya collectively hold more than 125 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Yet despite these vast resources, many African economies remain constrained by fragile electricity systems, outdated transmission infrastructure, and chronic power shortages. He warned that energy resources alone are meaningless without reliable grids capable of delivering electricity where it is needed.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, unreliable electricity continues to disrupt manufacturing, telecommunications, healthcare, education, and digital services. He lamented that businesses lose an estimated $65 billion annually in productivity due to power interruptions and unstable electricity supply. For African economies seeking to industrialize and attract global investment, experts say reliable energy systems are now as important as roads, ports, and telecommunications networks.
Piron commended the Kenyan Government for leading in renewable energy investment and added that long-term planning can reshape national economies. Kenya’s electricity is now generated from nearly 90 percent renewable sources, largely driven by geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy. He noted that Kenya’s progress demonstrates how African countries can become regional energy hubs by combining infrastructure investment, supportive regulation, and clean energy deployment.
Energy analysts say Kenya’s experience offers practical lessons for other African nations seeking to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while expanding electricity access. However, Piron said Africa’s grid infrastructure reflects decades of underinvestment. He challenged Africa to seize the opportunity to bypass outdated infrastructure models and build a modern, digitally integrated electricity network from the ground up. He pointed to advances in High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology, which can now transmit electricity over distances exceeding 3,000 kilometers with minimal energy losses.
Piron also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in electricity management. AI-powered grid systems can now forecast electricity demand, balance renewable energy flows, identify faults before outages occur, and optimize power distribution in real time. While Piron emphasized technology, energy experts attending the summit said infrastructure transformation will also require political coordination, regulatory reforms, and long-term financing.
