Veteran Energy Leader Highlights the Human Cost of Power Shortages and the Need for Practical, Local Solutions

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / Energy executive Leslie Nelson (former head of Energy for SSA covering GE Angola, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and other countries) is calling for greater public awareness and support to address Africa's ongoing power access crisis. In a newly released feature interview, he draws attention to the daily struggles caused by unreliable electricity and offers simple, actionable steps that individuals, communities, and organisations can take to support progress.

More than 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa live without electricity. According to the World Bank, power shortages cost African businesses over $28 billion every year, limiting job creation and slowing economic growth.

"Reliable power is the starting point for everything," Nelson says. "I once walked through a factory in Ghana where the lights went out every 20 minutes. Workers had to stop mid-shift, wait, and then try again. That single problem slowed the entire operation. You feel those moments. They stay with you."

Nelson stresses that energy is not only an economic issue but also a human one. Hospitals struggle to keep equipment running. Students cannot study at night. Small shops close early because generators are too expensive to run.

"When a clinic cannot store vaccines because the fridge keeps shutting off, that's not a technology issue-it's a life issue," he says.

The interview outlines several core areas where improvement can begin, including using local energy resources wisely, upgrading weak transmission lines, supporting local talent, and replacing costly diesel generators with cleaner and more reliable alternatives.

Nelson also emphasises the importance of community involvement. "When you spend time in rural areas, you hear what people actually need," he explains. "Some want power for farming tools. Others need it for cold storage or to run a small shop. When you listen first, solutions make more sense."

A Call to Action for the Public

Nelson believes that progress requires participation beyond governments and corporations. Everyday people can play a part, no matter where they live.

Suggested actions include:

• Supporting charities that bring energy access to underserved areas

• Sharing real stories about the impact of power shortages

• Encouraging schools and community centres to explore small solar systems

• Helping young people access STEM education or energy-related training

• Learning more about how energy scarcity affects health, education and jobs

"You do not need to build a power plant to help," Nelson says. "Small actions-mentoring a student, supporting an energy nonprofit, or even raising awareness-push this issue forward."

To read the full interview, visit the website here.

About Leslie Nelson

Leslie Nelson has led teams in GE Angola, Ghana, Nigeria and other African countries and is a seasoned private equity and energy executive with more than 25 years of global business experience, including leadership roles in Africa's power and infrastructure sectors. He has overseen billion-dollar energy portfolios, advised governments and private investors, and played a key role in developing new approaches to affordable power access across the continent. He divides his time between London, Accra, and New York.

Contact

Info@leslienelsonexecutive.com

SOURCE: Leslie Nelson