African nations look to India for solar investment

African countries are looking to strengthen cooperation with India in solar energy through technology sharing, investment and capacity building. Zimbabwe aims to increase the share of non-fossil fuel energy in its electricity generation to 49% by 2030, while Liberia is seeking greater participation from Indian companies in its solar power projects.

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026, Zimbabwe's Minister of Energy and Power Development July Moyo and Liberia's Deputy Minister for Energy Charles Umehai highlighted the scope for India-Africa cooperation in expanding renewable energy infrastructure.

Moyo said Zimbabwe aimed to raise the share of non-fossil fuel energy in its electricity generation to 49% by 2030, from less than 20% currently. He said the target would include hydropower, which already contributes around 35% of the country's electricity generation, while most of the additional capacity would come from solar energy.
Highlighting India's strengths in the renewable energy sector, Moyo said the country had developed capabilities across solar manufacturing and grid management.

"India is very advanced in the solar energy ecosystem from industrial production to the use of AI to make sure that the national grids can actually accommodate solar," he said.
"Solar and other renewable energy should be an expansion rather than a replacement," Moyo said.

Meanwhile, Liberia is looking to attract Indian investment to expand its solar power capacity. Umehai said the country had commissioned its first 20 MW utility-scale solar photovoltaic project and was encouraging Indian companies to participate in future projects through the independent power producer (IPP) model.
"This is a great opportunity where Indian companies can come and look into Liberia. And yes, Liberia is open for business," Umehai said.

Identifying access to finance as a major challenge for renewable energy developers, he said Liberia was encouraging independent power producers with the financial capacity to invest in the sector.
Umehai also highlighted the importance of developing domestic renewable energy resources amid geopolitical tensions and concerns over energy security.
He added that capacity-building initiatives and technical assistance from the International Solar Alliance could help African countries strengthen their renewable energy infrastructure and accelerate the adoption of solar power. - ANI