Lack of skills, energy poverty and regional interconnection should be high on the agenda of African leaders.

National governments and regional institutions in Africa are seeing stronger interest in energy efficiency, and are taking actions, in terms of policy measures, to encourage energy-efficiency improvements.

However, electricity supply remains a critical concern. The continent has seen a growth in demand, a lack of required investment and increasing power shortages. According to the World Energy Council’s (WEC) 2014 World Energy Issues Monitor, only with a focus on cooperation withChina and India for a stable investment frameworks and realising necessary infrastructure developments to complement regional interconnection will further progress around sustainable development be a possibility.

The WEC’s report was launched at this week’s Africa Energy Indaba. The event aims to bring together international and continental experts to share their insights and solutions to Africa’s energy crisis as well as explore the continent’s vast energy development opportunities.

Access to affordable and clean energy is crucial to accelerating Africa’s economic development and enhancing living standards. There is a shortage of skilled and talented energy personnel. This coupled with issues of energy poverty, should be high on the agenda of African leaders. However, regional interconnection has gained substantial ground. This highlights that regional interconnection should remain a key priority and be high on the agenda for African energy leaders.

The report says effort needs to be put into creating universal access to energy, with a focus on enhancing the abundant undeveloped energy resources, including renewable and clean energy sources. “While renewable energy remains a high-priority issue for Africa, with huge potential and opportunities, renewable sources have become more uncertain in 2013 and strong action is needed to address the issue.”