AfEEC provides a crucial dashboard to assess Member States’ progress toward the continental benchmark, a 50% enhancement in energy productivity by 2050, escalating to 70% by 2063.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Continental energy leaders are set to converge at the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters for the inaugural Africa Energy Efficiency Conference (AfEEC), a strategic gathering poised to ignite a transformative shift in the continent’s energy landscape.
Scheduled for December 10-11, 2025, the conference will be preceded by partner meetings and technical deep-dives beginning December 8.
Held under the theme “Advancing Africa’s Energy Productivity Through Access to Clean Energy,” the high-level forum is orchestrated by the African Union’s African Energy Commission (AFREC) in close synergy with the Regional Centres for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) network.
The event marks a critical milestone in operationalising the African Energy Efficiency Alliance, a dedicated platform mandated by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government to unify global and continental stakeholders around the energy efficiency (EE) agenda.
In an exclusive communiqué, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Ms Lerato Mataboge, framed the conference as a vital catalyst.
“This convening will supercharge knowledge exchange, bolster advocacy, and directly channel investments into energy efficiency programs,” she stated, aligning with the conference’s core objective of Advancing Africa’s Energy Efficiency Agenda through Strategic Partnerships.
Mataboge emphasised that the AfEEC provides a crucial dashboard to assess Member States’ progress toward the continental benchmark which is a 50% enhancement in energy productivity by 2050, escalating to 70% by 2063. This ambition is intrinsically linked to the global COP28 pledge to double the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements and triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Echoing this sentiment, Ethiopia’s Minister of Water and Energy, Dr Habtamu Itefa, whose nation is hosting the historic summit, called energy efficiency “the first fuel and most potent tool for systemic transformation.”
“By optimising our energy generation, transmission, distribution, and end-use consumption, we can decarbonise our systems, enhance grid reliability, and build inclusive energy resilience,” Dr Itefa asserted.
He observes that the platform is where collaboration, innovation, and shared ambition will translate into actionable investment pipelines and policy accelerants.
The conference agenda is meticulously curated to drive tangible outcomes. Key sessions include Energy Efficiency as the ‘First Fuel’ for African Development: Perspectives from Member States, Ministerial Roundtable for Positioning EE as a Strategic Priority for Economic Growth, and Accelerating Finance by Mobilising Capital through the African Energy Efficiency Facility.
Building Decarbonization by Making High-Performance, Resilient Structures the African Norm, and Enabling Frameworks through Crafting Robust EE Policy and Regulatory Instruments are among other issues that will be discussed.
The crowning moment will be the official launch of the African Energy Efficiency Alliance on December 10, designed to transition from strategy to implementation by fortifying partnerships, facilitating technology transfer, and scaling proven EE solutions across sectors.
The AfEEC is expected to draw energy ministers, development finance institutions, private sector innovators, ESG investors, project developers, and technical experts, all laser-focused on hastening the execution of the African Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (AfEES).
Some of the key organisations include the International Energy Agency (IEA), the OPEC Fund, UNEP, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Alliance for Rural Electrification, UNIDO, and Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Building (PEEB), among others.
“Together, let us seize this moment to demand-side management, reduce energy intensity, and shape a more productive, sustainable, and prosperous energy future for Africa,” Dr Itefa concluded, issuing a powerful call to action for the continent and its partners.
