What does the US dollar have to do with energy access in Africa? 

Mark Blyth explains why countries are so keen to cut back their US dollar dependence; and how that’s connected to the way they get energy. Also, why Germany is afraid of Chinese EVs. Then we talk to Adjekai Adjei about how these constraints actually play out in the African continent. 

Guests: 

Mark Blyth - professor of international economics at Brown University. 

Naa Adjekai Adjei - Nigeria-based expert in Chinese energy projects in Africa from SE4All, and a fellow at the China Global South Project.   

Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate MacKenzie, and Tim Sahay from the net zero industrial policy lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry. 

• Produced by Sarah Allely
• Original music by Russell Stapleton
• Mixed by Bethany Stewart

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