Introducing: Focus on Africa - Electric vehicles: fixing Africa's fuel crisis?

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary

4.3 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2026

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Kenya is the latest African country to increase fuel prices citing the US-Israel war with Iran. While announcing one of the steepest pump price increments in recent times, the government reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel products from 16% to 8%, as the country's political opposition threatens street demonstrations if measures to lower prices further are not taken. In this episode, we explore if electric vehicles are a viable transport alternative in African countries.

Also, the global fashion industry produces 92 million tonnes of textile waste every year with much of it ending up in landfills or being burned, according to the United Nations. We hear a Nigerian fashion designer's journey to curb rising fashion waste through upcycling.

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts.
0:07.3	On BBC Sounds, there are podcasts to help you look after your body and your mind.
0:12.7	From increasing your immunity to feeling more confident.
0:16.6	Or tips on how to focus.
0:18.5	Sorry, what will you say?
0:19.7	If it matters to you, it matters to us.
0:22.6	Feel good inside of them.
0:24.3	With what's up docs.
0:25.9	And complex with Kimberly Wilson.
0:27.9	Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:30.5	Hello and welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service.
0:34.2	I'm Nkichi Obona and I would like to recommend the podcast I host Focus on Africa.
0:40.7	Every day we bring you two essential stories from the continent, offering in-depth analysis
0:47.0	on the biggest headlines and hearing from the voices at the heart of the stories.
0:52.8	You can listen and subscribe to Focus on Africa wherever you get your BBC podcast.
0:58.8	In this episode,
1:04.3	The uncertainties around the U.S.-Israel war with Iran continues to cause disruptions in the energy sector as full prices
1:13.4	continue to rise in Africa.
1:16.3	But how sustainable could the alternative of electric powered vehicles be on the continent?
1:21.9	It is sustainable to a certain degree.
1:26.0	You mentioned about South Africa and Nigeria.
1:28.9	They have a huge power demand.
	...

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