Demand for electricity in Africa is expected to more than triple by the year 2040, due to a variety of factors such as rapid industrialisation, migration to cities, rising household incomes, and effects of climate change. This will require a concerted effort to plan and coordinate power generation and transmission infrastructure on a continental scale. Besides, the creation of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) - one of the largest electricity markets in the world, covering a population of more than 1.3 billion – requires physical interconnection of Africa’s continental energy infrastructure.

This is why, in 2019, African energy ministers tasked the African Union Development Agency to lead the development of this interconnection – under a Continental Master Plan (CMP) for electricity generation and transmission.

The CMP aims to curb the electricity deficit and allow a well-balanced sharing of affordable, reliable and clean energy resources. It brings together over 100 African stakeholders to rethink Africa’s energy planning and co-create solutions to tackle energy poverty.

The CMP is the masterplan for Africa’s Green Vision, creating one grid for one continent. It is implemented by AUDA-NEPAD, supported by the European Union - Global Technical Assistance Facility (EU-GTAF), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).