Airtel Africa Saves 9.1 Million Litres of Diesel, Expands Sustainability and Digital Inclusion Across Africa
Airtel Africa Plc has announced that it saved 9.1 million litres of diesel during the 2025/2026 financial year, reinforcing its commitment to responsible business growth through environmental sustainability, financial inclusion and expanded digital connectivity across its 14 African markets.
LUSAKA, Zambia – Airtel Africa Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to responsible business growth after saving 9.1 million litres of diesel during the 2025/2026 financial year through initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental footprint and accelerating sustainable development across Africa.
The achievement was announced by the company's Chief Executive Officer, , during a media roundtable in Lusaka, Zambia, where he presented the company's 2026 Sustainability Scorecard and highlighted progress towards building a more sustainable, inclusive and digitally connected Africa.
According to the company, the diesel savings were achieved by reducing dependence on diesel-powered infrastructure and increasing the use of lower-carbon energy sources. During the financial year, Airtel Africa converted 390 network infrastructure sites to on-grid electricity, improving operational efficiency while reducing carbon emissions.
The telecommunications and mobile money provider also strengthened its environmental stewardship by recycling 94 per cent of the waste generated across its operations, in line with its circular economy strategy.
Taldar said responsible growth remains at the heart of Airtel Africa's business strategy, noting that the company continues to expand access to connectivity and economic opportunities while advancing its sustainability objectives.
He disclosed that Airtel Africa's network now covers 81.9 per cent of the population across its 14 African markets, providing millions of people with greater access to communication services, information, education and economic opportunities.
The company also reported significant growth in financial inclusion through its Airtel Money platform, which now serves 54.1 million customers supported by a network of 2.4 million agents across the continent. Women account for 44.1 per cent of Airtel Money users, reflecting the platform's growing contribution to empowering women with secure, affordable and convenient digital financial services.
Through the Airtel Africa Foundation, the company invested US$6.2 million during the year in programmes focused on financial inclusion, education, environmental sustainability and digital inclusion.
As part of its partnership with UNICEF, Airtel Africa connected 3,296 schools to free internet services, benefiting more than two million learners and 38,868 teachers. In addition, 64 zero-rated digital learning platforms enabled over 11 million students to access educational content at no cost.
The company further disclosed that more than 30,000 young Africans received digital skills training during the year, while over 250 undergraduate STEM scholarships were awarded through the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship Programme to support the development of future technology professionals and innovators across the continent.
The latest sustainability milestones underscore Airtel Africa's continued efforts to balance business expansion with environmental responsibility, digital inclusion and long-term socio-economic development across Africa.
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