France has reaffirmed its commitment to Africa’s clean energy transition with new bilateral financing agreements and major financing commitments. Last week, the governments of Mauritania and France, through the French Development Agency (AFD), signed a $45.4 million deal to finance 10 solar power plants combined with battery storage. The project aims to accelerate Mauritania’s clean energy supply, reduce the disparity in electricity access between urban and rural areas, and integrate storable solar power into the national electricity grid.
The agreement with Mauritania reflects a broader strategy by the French DFI and partner financial institutions to develop structured financing for renewable energy, storage and energy access initiatives across the continent. In September 2025, AFD signed cooperation agreements with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to accelerate geothermal development, leveraging Kenya’s deep geothermal expertise and French technology in direct geothermal applications. In parallel, AFD has pledged €1 billion to expand electricity access across sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 under its Mission 300 initiative, strengthening France’s position as a key partner in Africa’s energy transformation.
Taken together, these agreements highlight several important developments in Africa’s energy investment landscape. First, renewable energy financing is moving beyond pilot and small-scale projects to storage-enabled integrated solutions in emerging markets. Access and migration goals are increasingly aligned, and new projects are designed to expand the availability of electricity while supporting clean generation. Importantly, these deals demonstrate how structured bilateral and multilateral finance is mobilizing not only capital but also technology, expertise and capacity to accelerate energy growth in Africa.
The African Energy Investment (IAE) 2026 Forum, to be held in Paris on 22-23 April 2026, will provide a platform to consider these new frameworks. Sessions will explore how structured finance can be scaled up, how private investment can complement concessional financing, and how storage, digitization and grid integration can be incorporated into renewable pipelines. France’s recent agreements with Mauritania and Kenya provide concrete examples of how host countries can combine finance with technology transfer and regional cooperation, offering lessons for investors, policymakers and developers.
“Building more solar” is no longer enough for Africa’s energy sector. The focus now is on how projects will be delivered, who will be involved, and how integrated solutions that combine storage, digital infrastructure and strategic financing can accelerate deployment. With the Mauritania Agreement in place, France’s broader commitment clear, and IAE 2026 approaching, Mauritania is entering a new chapter in its energy transformation defined by innovation, cooperation and strategic investment.
IAE 2026 is a special forum aimed at connecting African energy markets with global investors and will serve as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to Africa Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22-23, 2026 in Paris, the event will offer participants two days of in-depth interaction with industry experts, project developers, investors and policy makers. For more information, please visit www.invest-africa-energy.com. To become a sponsor or register as a representative, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
