Airtel Africa says it saved 9.1 million litres of diesel across its operations in 14 African countries during the 2025 to 2026 financial year, as the telecoms giant steps up efforts to cut its environmental footprint and pursue more responsible growth.
The company said the savings came from a deliberate push to reduce its dependence on diesel powered infrastructure while expanding the use of lower carbon energy sources. A major part of that shift involved converting 390 operational sites to on grid power within the year, a move Airtel said improved efficiency and helped lower emissions across its network.
Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Sunil Taldar, highlighted the development during a media roundtable in Lusaka, Zambia, where he presented the company’s Sustainability Scorecard and outlined progress made in its wider goal of building a more sustainable, inclusive and connected Africa.
According to the company, the diesel savings form part of a broader sustainability strategy designed to support long term business growth while also reducing environmental impact. Airtel Africa said it is working to strike a balance between commercial expansion, environmental responsibility, digital inclusion and wider socio economic development across the markets where it operates.
The company also reported progress in waste management, revealing that 94 per cent of the total waste generated during the year was recycled. That effort, it said, reflects its growing focus on circular economy practices and more efficient use of resources across its operations.
Taldar said responsible growth remains at the heart of Airtel Africa’s strategy, adding that the company’s expanding network continues to create opportunities for millions of people through improved access to connectivity, information, education and economic participation. Airtel Africa’s network now covers 81.9 per cent of the population across its markets.
Beyond telecom services, the company said it is also deepening financial inclusion through Airtel Money, which now serves 54.1 million customers supported by a network of 2.4 million agents. Airtel described the platform as one of the continent’s biggest digital financial service ecosystems and noted that 44.1 per cent of its users are women, a sign of the growing role the platform is playing in expanding access to secure and affordable financial services for female customers.
Airtel Africa also pointed to the work of the Airtel Africa Foundation, its philanthropic arm, which invested 6.2 million dollars during the year in programmes focused on financial inclusion, education, environmental sustainability and digital inclusion across the continent.
Through its partnership with UNICEF, the company said 3,296 schools have now been connected to free internet services, helping to close the digital gap in underserved communities. Airtel said the initiative has reached more than two million learners and 38,868 teachers, while 64 zero rated digital learning platforms have provided over 11 million learners with free access to educational content.
The company added that more than 30,000 young people received digital skills training during the year, while over 250 undergraduate STEM scholarships were awarded through the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship programme as part of efforts to support the next generation of African innovators and technology leaders.
