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Chinese green manufacturing in Africa has only just started

The continent’s sustainable future looks ever more factory-based and red - as in linked to Beijing

October 29, 2026

Welcome to Green Rising – Africa may well be a pawn for China in its trade war with the West. But the continent isn’t a lame duck. How African countries act will determine whether they can use this opportunity to become significant green manufacturers.

Djoomart Otorbaev, the former Kyrgyz PM just wrote on LinkedIn: “China’s African strategy has entered a new phase. The factory is replacing the mine. Africa is no longer a source of raw materials for Chinese business. It is becoming a place where Chinese companies manufacture goods, create jobs, build supply chains, and compete for markets. This shift could reshape Africa’s economic future—and challenge conventional Western interpretations of China’s presence on the continent.”

Mr Otorbaev is this week attending a major Chinese government confab (“the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee”). He may be a Beijing shill. But that tells you even more about what’s in store.

It is no coincidence that Chinese automaker Geely Auto is currently hosting senior Kenyan government officials — given the $3 billion EV manufacturing project in Kenya. This is one of dozens of major EV manufacturing projects in Africa being developed by Chinese companies as Beijing moves from simply extracting resources in Africa to building factories.

  • Consulting firm Rhodium Group says Chinese investment in African manufacturing and processing reached $7.7 billion in 2025, surpassing the $4.8 billion directed toward extractive industries. Most of the manufacturing investments are in the EV sector, especially in battery production.

  • Manufacturing in Africa helps Chinese EV companies bypass restrictions imposed in key markets like the US and EU. It also helps to increase sales in Africa through a reduction in costs and integration of local supply chains.

  • Our take: Africa must turn China’s EV manufacturing expansion into a long-term industrial advantage… Read more (2 min)

Chinese car manufacturing giant Geely Auto has launched an electric vehicle manufacturing drive in Africa. Through Endelevu Enterprise Corporation, Geely has signed an MoU with Kenya to set up an EV production plant for $3 billion. The facility will assemble 50,000 electric cars, 100,000 electric motorcycles annually and 1,000 EV chargers.

  • Geely is an EV powerhouse. The Geely E2 is the top-selling passenger vehicle of any type in China and is a hit in South Africa. One of the cheapest electric cars in the world, Geely will most likely make the E2 in Kenya.   

  • But the biggest impact could be in electric motorcycles. An output of 100,000 units annually would make Geely the largest electric two-wheeler maker in Kenya. The firm will most likely use Kenya as an export hub for the region. 

  • Our take: For Africa to become an EV production hub tomorrow, it has to start laying the right foundations today… Read more (2 min)

For years, African countries have benefited from China’s solar panel overproduction, which drove prices down as manufacturers battled for global market share. But that era may be coming to an end. China’s government is now ordering solar giants to reduce output, after some of the industry’s biggest players reported billions of dollars in losses.

  • For Africa, the timing could not be better. With several African solar manufacturing plants in development, China’s policy shift may provide the spark needed to boost a sector that is already gaining momentum.

  • Solar demand in Africa has quadrupled in the past five years, with imports from China set to hit record highs this year. If Chinese import prices now rise, African manufacturers could become more competitive and soak up demand.

  • Our take: Local solar manufacturing needs to aggregate demand to compete with Chinese products… Read more (2 min)

Egyptian firm Kemet has signed two agreements with Chinese companies worth $700 million to establish a 5 GW-per-year solar cell manufacturing facility and a 5 GWh battery energy storage factory. The deals support Egypt’s push to vertically localise its solar supply chain, helping the country capture more value domestically while accelerating its energy transition.

  • Africa’s solar manufacturing sector has received a boost following new US trade tariffs on China, as Chinese companies seek partnerships to relocate production to tariff-friendly countries.

  • North Africa, in particular, is attracting Chinese manufacturers, given geographic proximity and existing trade agreements providing access to European markets.

  • Our take: Localisation efforts are coming at the right time, giving Africa a chance to leapfrog outdated technologies… Read more (2 min)

Number of the week

…is the number of new electric car models expected to enter African markets in the next few months. Pure EVs dominate the pipeline, followed by plug-in hybrids. South Africa and Egypt attract the most models, while Morocco, Kenya and Nigeria are catching up.

Network corner

❝

👉KenGen names Ronoh Kibet Charles as its next managing director and CEO, to strengthen its position as a major electricity producer and a regional provider of geothermal expertise and energy-related services.

👉Mozambique’s Zambeze Delta Safaris bags the 2026 Markhor Award for wildlife conservation with local livelihoods

Top green jobs from…

EVENTS UPDATE 

📆 Sign Up for the Powerelec Conference in Kenya (November 10)

📆 Join the Automotive, Accessories & Transportation in Tanzania (November 18) 

📆 Attend the Electric Mobility festival in Ghana (November 27)

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