AG Nyirenda Advocates for Just and Sustainable Energy Transition in Africa at Paris Arbitration Week

Keynote Address Highlights Africa’s Renewable Potential and Legal Reforms

The Attorney General of Malawi, Honourable Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda, delivered a powerful keynote address at Paris Arbitration Week, framing Africa’s energy transition as both a moral obligation and economic necessity. Speaking before an audience of over 500 in-person and virtual attendees, the AG emphasized the continent’s urgent need for equitable energy solutions.

Bridging the Energy Gap Through Sustainable Development

Nyirenda highlighted Africa’s paradoxical position – possessing abundant renewable energy resources including solar, hydro, and wind power, while over 600 million citizens remain without electricity access. “This isn’t just a challenge,” he asserted, “but a transformative opportunity to uplift lives and economies across the continent.”

Legal Frameworks as Foundation for Transition

The AG stressed the critical role of robust legal systems in enabling Africa’s energy transformation. “Harmonized laws and effective dispute resolution mechanisms are fundamental,” Nyirenda stated, positioning arbitration as a vital tool for balancing development goals with environmental and ethical considerations.

He proposed three key reforms for international arbitration processes:

• Integration of sustainability principles
• Amplification of African voices in global forums
• Development of model contracts aligned with clean energy objectives

Malawi’s Clean Energy Progress

Nyirenda showcased his country’s advancements in renewable energy, including significant investments in solar, hydropower, and biogas projects. He detailed Malawi’s legal reforms designed to make energy projects more financially viable and dispute outcomes more predictable for investors.

A Call to Action for Continental Transformation

Concluding his address, the AG issued a compelling call to action, urging stakeholders to prioritize:

• Collaboration over complexity
• Equity over exclusion
• Courage over caution

“Africa’s energy transition represents more than infrastructure development,” Nyirenda declared. “It’s a journey of shared dignity, sovereignty, and destiny – one that demands legal frameworks empowering our people while protecting our planet.”

Original source: Malawi Voice