African Nations Push Local Solar Production Amid Ongoing Chinese Dominance

Major African economies are expanding domestic solar manufacturing to reduce reliance on Chinese imports, though China is expected to stay the global leader in component supply.

Across the continent, countries including Ethiopia, South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria are accelerating efforts to build homegrown solar-manufacturing capacity, seeking both industrial growth and greater energy self-sufficiency. South Africa’s state utility Eskom intends to construct a 1-gigawatt factory, and Nigeria has raised its local assembly capability from roughly 120 MW to about 300 MW in the past two years, matching the scale of imports that are still dominated by China.

Experts say the shift reflects stronger domestic demand and the need to diversify revenue as rooftop solar reduces grid loads. Nevertheless, Africa lacks commercial-scale solar-cell production, meaning new plants must import Chinese components, preserving China’s grip on the high-value segment of the supply chain. Chinese manufacturers, facing a domestic glut and recent losses, are channeling investment into Africa and other regions, a trend that is likely to sustain their export advantage for the foreseeable future.