Energy and infrastructure leader Leslie Nelson, a former senior executive at GE Angola, GE Ghana, GE Africa, and New Fortress Energy, is calling out five common myths that continue to mislead individuals, businesses, and communities about Africa's energy future. Drawing on more than 25 years of hands-on experience across finance and power projects, Nelson says these myths slow progress and distract from practical solutions that already work.
'When the lights go out multiple times per day, theory doesn't matter,' Nelson said in a recent interview. 'What matters is what actually keeps power on.'
Myth 1: Africa lacks energy resources. Many assume resources are scarce due to common power shortages. The reality: Africa has vast solar, wind, hydropower, and natural gas reserves. The issue is access and infrastructure, not supply. Sub-Saharan Africa receives some of the highest solar irradiation in the world. Indeed Africa is long on natural gas and short on power. Gas to Power has the ability to close the power infrastructure gap in SSA. Nelson advises learning which local resources are strongest and supporting small solar or mini-grid options. 'The problem isn't potential,' Nelson says. 'It's turning potential into working systems.'
Myth 2: Reliable power must be expensive. Many rely on diesel generators, which cost 2–3 times more per unit of energy than grid or solar power. Replacing diesel with solar or gas can cut costs by 40% or more. Nelson recommends tracking monthly spend on fuel or generator maintenance and comparing it with prepaid power or shared solar options.
Myth 3: Big national grids are the only answer. Mini-grids and off-grid systems already power millions and are faster to deploy and cheaper for rural areas. 'It's not about building the biggest thing,' Nelson notes. 'It's about building the thing that works. Connecting these mini grids will be the secret sauce to success.'
Myth 4: Energy problems are mainly technical. Human factors such as training, maintenance, billing systems, and local buy-in determine success. 'I've seen good projects fail because no one was trained to develop them, finance them and run them,' Nelson said. 'People matter as much as machines.'
Myth 5: Individuals can't make a difference. Individual actions add up through education, awareness, and small choices that influence adoption and policy. Nelson advises sharing reliable information, mentoring students, or supporting local energy initiatives. 'The lack of qualified Project Developers and early stage project financing continues to be a hindrance to progress,' Nelson says.
Africa's energy challenge is not a lack of ideas or resources. It's about choosing practical solutions that fit local needs and acting on them now. Over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa still live without electricity. Unreliable power costs businesses an estimated $28 billion each year, according to the World Bank. Improving access and reliability is essential for jobs, healthcare, education, and long-term growth.
