Africa Energy Bank must be fully operationalized now- Jinapor

Energy and Green Transition Minister John Jinapor has emphasized the urgent need for Africa to reduce its reliance on external funding for energy projects.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC), Jinapor called for the immediate operationalization of the Africa Energy Bank, describing it as a critical tool for financing and de-risking large-scale energy infrastructure on the continent.

“To unlock Africa’s energy potential, we need capital. We can’t continue to depend on foreign financing that comes with conditions and distortions,” he said. “Africa must build its own financial market, one that supports local projects, funds big-ticket infrastructure, and keeps value within the continent.”

Jinapor added that fully activating the Africa Energy Bank should be a top priority for the continent’s energy strategy.

AETC 2025 brought together policymakers, investors, and tech leaders to discuss solutions for advancing Africa’s energy transition in a sustainable and economically viable way.

The event ran under the theme: “Innovate, Invest, Implement: Revolutionizing Financing for Sustainable Energy Growth in Africa.”