Access to reliable and affordable energy is essential for modern economies, sustainable development and political stability. While home to some of the fastest-growing economies of the world, energy security continues to be a key challenge for Africa. More than half the population in Africa doesn’t have access to electricity or reliable sources of energy. The continent, especially rural areas, continues to lack adequate energy infrastructure, including power generation capacity, transmission and distribution lines. Population growth, rapid urbanization and ambitious development goals are adding to the challenges. To overcome those hurdles, African countries need to tap into their energy potential (renewable and non-renewable), put in place sound policies, introduce the required regulatory reforms, and pursue regional cooperation/integration to create an enabling environment for investment and economies of scale for both public and private parties, including through public-private partnerships. African organizations, most notably the African Union and the African Development Bank, have a key role to play in putting the continent on a path to energy security, sustainable development and sustaining peace.