Abuja’s action plan for sustainable hydropower development in Africa was presented

In a strategic move to strengthen energy security and sustainable development in Africa, the Abuja Plan of Action for Sustainable Hydropower Development was unveiled. Recognizing the key role that hydropower plays in the continent’s energy landscape, the plan aims to increase electricity supply by 50% by 2030 and quadruple it by 2050. Hydropower currently supplies 40% of electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting its importance as a reliable and well-known energy source technology.

The challenge is to cost-effectively increase this potential while tackling climate change. Hydropower is promoted as an affordable, renewable, clean and green solution that can significantly increase energy security and access. It also complements other renewable technologies such as solar and wind energy, which require the constant, dispatchable and flexible resources that hydropower can provide.

Key steps and recommendations:

Optimization of existing infrastructure: Many water facilities in Africa are aging, leading to deteriorated performance. Renovating these stations could restore or even expand their generating capacity, offering significant benefits at relatively low costs.
Investing in new projects: With approximately 90% of Africa’s hydropower potential untapped, there are significant opportunities for new greenfield and pumped storage projects. They are essential as variable renewable energy sources become more dominant.
Political support and enabling policies: Hydropower projects require ongoing political support due to their complex nature and long development cycles. Governments must implement enabling policies, reform markets that discourage hydropower investment, remove unnecessary planning barriers and provide capital at fair costs.
Private investments and public-private partnerships: Encouraging private sector participation could accelerate development and reduce costs. The hydropower industry is ready to engage, with private investors showing growing interest in the sector.
Commitment to sustainability: Hydropower projects should comply with the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, ensuring that environmental and social issues are taken into account. Certification under this standard can facilitate access to finance and speed up project approval processes.

Call to action:

The Abuja Action Plan calls on African governments to:

Recognize and support sustainable hydropower as a modern and affordable solution for a secure electricity supply.
Develop long-term renewable energy plans, including hydropower goals.
Speed up permitting processes while improving the quality of decisions.
Implement policies that support decarbonization through sustainable hydropower projects.
Ensure appropriate development of network infrastructure to connect hydropower projects to wider networks and support inter-national connections.

The plan also calls on international financial institutions and sustainable development funds to support renewable energy infrastructure projects through soft loans and other financial products, given the long implementation times of such projects.

By endorsing the Abuja Action Plan, stakeholders reaffirm their commitment to the global principles and recommendations set out in the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower and the Bali Statement on Driving Sustainable Growth. The success of the plan depends on the concerted efforts of governments, international bodies and the private sector to ensure that Africa’s hydropower potential is fully realized, moving the continent towards a sustainable and prosperous energy future.

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