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Providing access to energy

Powering progress

In line with our Powering Progress strategy, Shell is striving to bring reliable electricity to people in emerging markets who do not yet have it.

Around 775 million people in the world have no electricity, according to the International Energy Agency, and millions more have unreliable power supply.

Investing in energy access

Shell is striving to bring reliable electricity to people in emerging markets who do not yet have it.

We are working to improve the reliability of existing power supply to on-grid customers and to provide first power to off-grid customers and communities.

We are seeking strategic partnerships with governments, utilities, developers, banks and investors to address local challenges and opportunities, and progress towards achieving our ambition to power emerging markets.

In 2022, we acquired Daystar Power, a provider of solar power to businesses in West Africa. The investment helps expand our energy business into developing markets like those in Africa where more lower-carbon electricity is needed.

Read more about our commercial energy access business at www.shell.com/emerging-markets-power.

Social programmes

Separate to our commercial ambition, we invest in social programmes that benefit communities where we work. Through these voluntary initiatives, we work with partner organisations to help individuals and communities access reliable electricity.

In 2022, we continued to develop programmes to improve access to energy in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa.

Read more about how our social investment programmes help to increase access to energy at www.shell.com/sustainability/communities/access-to-energy.