President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the billions pledged to expand renewable energy across Africa, while emphasising that the real test will lie in implementation and in ensuring that the funds are spent on the right people.
“The funding pledged today is only the first step. The real test will lie in implementation. That is whether the pledges we made today will indeed be realised. I say advisedly, because I don’t only want to smell the money, I don’t only want to touch it, I want to see it being spent. It must be spent here in Africa to realise the dreams of African people on this continent,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President was speaking at the Global Citizen Scaling Up Renewables in Africa event in Johannesburg on Friday, held alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, on the eve of the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
The remarks came as governments, development institutions and private-sector partners confirmed €15.5 billion in commitments to the campaign, alongside plans expected to generate nearly 27 gigawatts of renewable power and expand electricity access to millions of households across Africa.
The gathering marked the culmination of a year-long drive under South Africa’s G20 Presidency to push Africa’s energy priorities to the centre of global dialogue.
Before the President’s remarks, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a landmark €7 billion Team Europe pledge, describing it as Europe “standing with Africa now and in future.”
President Ramaphosa said the scale of commitments reflected renewed global confidence in Africa’s energy potential.
“The scale of the commitments we have witnessed today are extraordinary. They affirm the relevance of our G20 theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” he said.
South Africa, he noted, has already installed over 17 gigawatts of renewable energy, and aims to raise this to 45 GW by 2035, guided by its Just Energy Transition Investment Plan and Renewable Energy Masterplan.
He stressed that the transition must uplift workers, communities and young entrepreneurs, warning that pledges alone do not build power plants or expand access.
The President added that Africa’s renewable energy transformation must be rooted in community ownership and local benefit, urging that households across the continent be the ones that benefit the most.
“This will require discipline, partnership and an unwavering commitment to action. As we scale renewable energy across our continent, African ownership must be at the heart of this revolution.
“This must be people centred, the various communities that we talk about as we make these announcements must be the ones that are the beneficiaries, the households we say we are going to light up must be the ones that benefit the most,” he said.
The President added that Africa’s clean energy future will only succeed if investment strengthens local capabilities.
“These initiatives will ensure that the next gigawatts of renewable energy are built through local skills, local manufacturing and local innovation. Scaling renewables across Africa is essential for inclusive economic development,” he said.
Calling on global partners to remain engaged, President Ramaphosa closed with a message of optimism.
“I want to thank everyone who has made a pledge, we say thank you, indeed Africa is on the rise and we call everyone to join in the rise of this continent,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
