In a speech at the Italy-Africa Summit on Monday, President William Ruto has urged European nations to partner with African countries to develop renewable energy projects, produce green hydrogen, and extract critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies.
“Africa’s renewable energy potential and natural resources can aid in meeting Europe’s energy needs while fostering economic growth and technological advancement on our continent,” Ruto said. “Realizing this vision requires commitment and a collaborative approach, leveraging the strengths and resources of each region.”
The president emphasized Africa’s “largely untapped” renewable resources, including solar and wind, as being key to diversifying global energy supply chains. He said the continent’s deposits of critical materials essential for modern technologies also present “a unique opportunity for collaboration with Europe.”
Ruto announced ambitious plans for Kenya to increase its energy capacity from around 3 gigawatts currently to 100 gigawatts of renewable power by 2050. “This bold objective is grounded in the vast, yet largely untapped, renewable resources our country possesses,” he said.
However, the president noted that Africa faces systemic challenges in participating in the global energy transition. He cited that only $60 billion out of $3 trillion in clean energy investments in the past two decades reached Africa.
“Africa’s ambitious goal to transform into a green industrial powerhouse hinges on securing the right type and amount of capital, particularly in the realms of renewable energy and infrastructure,” Ruto said. “But African countries pay five times as much for our debt, driven by both real and perceived risk factors.”
He called for reforms to the global financial system and invited Italy to support efforts launched at recent climate summits to improve debt sustainability and increase climate finance access for African nations.
While acknowledging Europe’s interest in diversifying gas supply, Ruto maintained that “gas remains a temporary solution, primarily for export and only with fair and equitable deal structuring.”
He concluded by expressing conviction that the summit “marks the beginning of a new era of mutually beneficial cooperation.” Ruto said he looked forward to “strengthened ties, collaborative successes, and shared prosperity” between Africa and Europe.
