Against the backdrop of the energy crisis emanating from the ongoing Middle East war, experts in the energy sector have called for a shift towards joint renewable energy investment and cross-border infrastructure between South Africa and Nigeria to safeguard the continent’s energy future.
Leading the call at the 4th South Africa Week, themed: Repositioning and Promoting Energy Investment Between South Africa and Nigeria”, in Lagos, Ms. Thandi Moraka, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, described both nations as powerhouses in the African continent, each with its immense potential to drive sustainable development, economic growth and regional integration through strategic energy collaboration.
She urged both countries to leverage their complimentary strength, including Nigeria’s solar potential and oil\has reserves as well as South Africa’s wind and solar capacity to build cross-border energy infrastructure, create a resilient continental energy market and export surplus energy.
“We are all aware that the energy is the backbone of every development, we need to look at the reliable and the affordable and most importantly sustainable energy access that can help us to unlock opportunities across industries and also goes to a point of empowering communities and enhance a good quality of life for our citizens,” she said.
“The process of repositioning our energy investments requires a strategic shift, one that is emphasised around issues of regional economic integration and innovation capabilities of our beautiful countries.
