Africa Energy & Environment Report Print this page Natural gas has a small but important role in Africa’s energy transition By Neil FordBottom lines up front Roughly 42 percent of Africa’s population lacks reliable access to electricity at home. produce variable amounts of power: Solar power plants produce electricity only during the day and wind farms when the wind blows. Apart from South Africa, Africa accounts for a tiny proportion of global GHG emissions. The Southern African Power Pool has been operating since 1995, but progress has been slow in other regions, especially with respect to making the West African Power Pool (WAPP) a reality. These efforts must include phasing out the vast majority of coal and oil and probably even natural gas projects.