The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organisation (Geidco) and the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (Apua) have launched a joint training programme on ‘Sharing Electric Vehicle (EV) and Energy Storage Technologies (EST) for Africa’s Sustainable Development’.

The training programme, which is running virtually from June 4 to 14, has attracted more than 140 participants from 25 African countries, ranging from transport and energy ministries, energy commissions and power companies to academia, as well as representatives of the ECA and African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

ECA deputy executive secretary and chief economist Hanan Morsy noted during the opening session that EVs could play a key role in climate change mitigation, energy transition and value chain development, and that the ECA would continue to support African member States in EV development, energy transition and industrialisation at large, through a value-chain approach.

Additionally, Mission of China to the African Union counsellor Liu Xiaoming noted in his opening remarks that the Mission would continue to promote and deepen China-Africa cooperation, through EVs and EST, experience sharing, technology transfer and partnerships between Chinese and African enterprises as pathways to support Africa’s energy transition.

Apua director-general Abel Didier Tella in his opening remarks stressed the crucial role of EVs and EST for Africa’s energy transition, highlighting continental frameworks such as the African Continental Master Plan (CMP) and the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), which need to be well integrated to meet universal energy access targets.

Further, Geidco secretary general Wu Xuan highlighted the pressure faced by African countries in accessing energy and driving the energy transition. To advance the sustainable development agenda, African countries “could transform their potential in renewable energies and critical minerals resources into industrial advantages, through the development of local value chains and the coordinated promotion of electrification, industrialisation and sustainable development”.

The training modules cover a various topics, including charging facilities, network security, energy storage, EV standards and initiatives, electric public transportation systems, heavy transportation vehicles and value chains, agricultural EVs and value chains, EV maintenance and battery reliability.

After the training, country-specific analysis and roadmap planning on EVs and EST will be carried out.