Organised labour, through the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)-Africa, has warned that Africa’s transition to renewable energy could become a new form of green colonialism unless governments take control of the continent’s natural resources and ensure that clean energy investments benefit African economies.
Speaking at the New Energy for Africa 11 Convening in Nairobi, Kenya, ITUC-Africa Deputy President Rose Omamo said Africa’s abundant renewable energy resources and critical minerals should be used to drive industrialisation, create decent jobs and strengthen public energy systems rather than enrich foreign interests.
The event, themed “African Workers’ Contributions to Energy Sovereignty, Green Industrialisation, and a Common African Position for COP31,” brought together labour leaders, climate negotiators and development stakeholders to discuss Africa’s role in the global energy transition ahead of the COP31 climate summit.
Omamo said that while expanding electricity access remains essential, the continent must also address who owns, finances and benefits from the new energy infrastructure being developed across Africa.
“We welcome efforts to address the energy crisis on our continent. More than 600 million Africans still live without electricity, and this situation cannot be allowed to continue.
“However, expanding electricity access is not enough on its own. We must ask who will own the new energy infrastructure, who will finance it and who will benefit from it.”
She stressed that Africa’s progress should not be measured only by the number of electricity connections or the volume of power generated, but also by the industries created, the communities connected and the improvements made in the lives of ordinary citizens.
The ITUC-Africa leader also highlighted growing international competition for Africa’s critical minerals, including cobalt, lithium, copper, graphite and rare earth elements, which are essential for electric vehicles, battery storage and renewable energy technologies.
She warned that Africa must avoid repeating the historical pattern of exporting raw materials while importing expensive finished products.
“Our minerals must support local processing, manufacturing, skills development and decent employment. They must contribute to peace and development instead of exploitation, displacement, conflict and violations of workers’ rights,” Omamo said.
According to her, workers must be placed at the centre of Africa’s clean energy transition rather than being consulted only after major policy and investment decisions have already been taken.
She argued that a just transition should provide secure employment, fair wages, social protection and meaningful participation in decision-making while creating opportunities for young people, women and workers in the informal economy. Omamo called for stronger collaboration between organised labour, African governments, the African Union and climate negotiators to develop a common African position before COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
“Our task is to ensure that Africa’s energy transition does not reproduce the inequalities of the past under a green name.
“It must help Africa develop its own industries. It must create decent jobs. It must improve access to affordable energy. It must protect workers and communities. It must strengthen public services. It must give African countries greater control over their resources and their development choices.”
She concluded by urging African leaders to seize the opportunities created by the global energy transition and ensure that the continent uses its natural wealth to transform its own economies rather than simply supplying raw materials for the industrial growth of other regions.
