Industry leaders, investors and governments gather in Cape Town to advance Africa’s industrial energy infrastructure. (Image source: Africa Energy Forum)

The Africa Energy Forum returns from 16-19 June 2026, bringing together the companies, investors and governments driving Africa's move from energy access to industrial-scale infrastructure

The companies gathering in Cape Town are deploying capital into transmission infrastructure, building mining corridors that will define trade routes for decades, financing baseload capacity that can power heavy industry, and developing renewable projects that will anchor Africa's manufacturing future. Forum Sponsor Sun Africa leads a group of sponsors whose projects and investments are already shaping how the continent builds its industrial base.

“I am looking forward to joining the conversation in Cape Town this June. What excites me about this year's Summit is the calibre of capital and commitment in the room — companies that are financing baseload capacity for heavy industry, building mining corridors that will define trade routes for decades, and deploying renewable projects that will anchor Africa's manufacturing future. That is the kind of long-term, structural thinking that Sun Africa has always believed this continent deserves, and it is exactly the conversation we need to be having.” Sun Africa, CEO, Adam Cortese.

ACWA Power, Infinity Power and AMEA Power are building gigawatt-scale renewable capacity across the continent. Globeleq and TotalEnergies are financing and operating projects that demonstrate how private capital can deliver industrial-grade infrastructure. British International Investment and IFC are structuring deals that blend concessional and commercial finance to unlock sovereign wealth fund participation. Nedbank CIB is providing the sustainable finance structures that allow projects to reach financial close.

“As Africa moves from aspiration to execution, this year's agenda focuses on the hardware of industrialisation – the steel, concrete and transmission lines that will define Africa's industrial future,” said Simon Gosling, Managing Director of EnergyNet.

The companies driving this shift face common challenges: structuring bankable projects where perceived risk exceeds actual performance, moving critical minerals from extraction to processing, building transmission corridors that serve both mines and cities, and deploying patient capital into long-term infrastructure.

Cape Town provides the right setting. South Africa is navigating private transmission investment, energy trading, mining-driven renewable deployment, and tensions between industrial growth and climate commitments – challenges the rest of the continent will face. The city's reforms offer a live case study.

The agenda reflects where these companies are focusing their resources. Critical minerals receive a two-day dedicated stream exploring downstream processing, transport corridors and value capture from reserves representing over 30% of global supply. Sessions examine the Lobito Corridor, Liberty Corridor and Simandou infrastructure as models for large-scale project finance.

Transmission and baseload themes address grid expansion, private investment structures and 24/7 availability for data centres and manufacturing. Energy trading sessions explore how sponsors are transforming project finance through creditworthy off-take, whole technology discussions will cover AI for revenue protection, data centre supply chains and CBAM compliance.

More broadly, the forum structure supports deal-making. The speaker programme includes closed-door roundtables bringing together DFIs, sovereign wealth funds, Middle East ministers, utilities, regulators and the private sector for frank discussions on capital deployment.

This will bring together senior public and private sector leadership, with notable speakers including H.E. Honourable Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity & Energy, South Africa; H.E. Honourable Samantha Graham-Marè, Deputy Minister of Electricity & Energy, South Africa; Dan Marokane, GCE, Eskom, South Africa; H.E. Honourable Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Vice President, Liberia; H.E. Honourable Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity & Energy, South Africa; H.E. Honourable Lerato Mataboge, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy; Precious Edward, Head, IPP Office, South Africa; Obaïd Amrane, CEO, Ithmar Capital, Morocco, Chair, Africa Sovereign Investors Forum (ASIF) & Chair, International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF); Mike Teke, Group CEO, Seriti Resources; and Jonathan Hoffman, CEO, Globeleq.

Regional fireside chats, meanwhile, will spotlight opportunities across North, East, South and West Africa. Day One features ministerial sessions with participation from Sierra Leone's Ministry of Energy and The Gambia's Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Natural Resources.

Additional sponsors driving the programme include AKSA as Exhibitor Sponsor, with lead sponsor support from Synergy Consulting, ATIDI, Engie, European Investment Bank, Standard Bank, Red Rocket, USP&E Global and Sungrow.

On the final day, YES! (Youth Energy Summit) takes place as part of the aef stream under the theme ‘Empowering Today's Entrepreneurs – Building Tomorrow's Industrialists’. Here, impact leaders will present scalable initiatives creating entrepreneurship opportunities in Africa's energy sector, while industry partners lead interactive workshops building practical skills for 600 young people in attendance.

Electra Mining Africa 2026 will spotlight automation, AI and industrial technologies shaping African sectors. (Image source: Electra Mining 2026)

Emerging innovations are reshaping South Africa’s mining, manufacturing, industrial and automation sectors, accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies across operational environments

Technologies such as mechanisation, automation and digitisation are enhancing safety, efficiency and productivity across mines, factories, industrial plants and warehouses. To deliver measurable impact, however, these solutions must remain cost-effective while addressing practical, people-focused industry challenges.

The rapid expansion of automation is also strengthening local industries by encouraging investment in innovation, data analytics and workforce development. It is helping boost local competitiveness while enabling African-developed technologies to be adapted for export into regional markets. South African engineers continue to play a leading role in technology development and industrial innovation. Many of these advancements and automated systems will be showcased at Electra Mining Africa 2026, the largest exhibition of its kind in Southern Africa, taking place in Johannesburg later this year.

Among the technologies on display will be new CNC simulation server automation software featuring CNC-specific user interfaces capable of simulating part machining using real-time operational data. Visitors will also see automated digital systems designed to track and trace projects, offering real-time visibility, improved collaboration and easier access to critical information for project teams.

Industries such as mining and petrochemicals depend heavily on uninterrupted power supply, accurate control systems and stringent safety standards, where even short disruptions can lead to downtime, operational risks and significant financial losses. Reflecting these evolving industry needs, exhibitors will present intelligent digitally enabled power solutions developed for modern mission-critical facilities.

As automation levels continue to rise across mining operations, the quality and reliability of data feeding these systems have become increasingly important. Companies specialising in industrial sensing and monitoring technologies are contributing to more dependable automation systems through digital speed, position and condition monitoring solutions designed specifically for harsh industrial and mining environments. South African companies will also showcase the latest advancements in precision motion technologies used in automated mining and heavy industrial systems.

Additional innovations featured at Electra Mining Africa will include AI-enabled collision avoidance systems designed for mining operations. These systems integrate intelligent cameras capable of detecting people, vehicles and obstacles under real mining conditions. The exhibition will also highlight network terminal slice computing technologies, which shift computing capabilities from centralised servers to localised device-level processing to improve efficiency, speed and operational resilience. Automated fire suppression technologies developed for modern mining and industrial applications will also form part of the exhibition showcase.

The biennial event will introduce several new features in 2026, including an outdoor exhibition space known as the Arena at the Expo Centre. According to Charlene Hefer, the newly launched Orange Zone was created in response to strong exhibitor demand and the requirement for additional exhibition space following the success of the previous event.

“The new Orange Zone allows us to accommodate more companies looking to showcase large-scale equipment and innovations outdoors,” commented Hefer.

“It also enables greater participation from original equipment manufacturers, giving visitors a valuable opportunity to view, compare and evaluate a broader range of solutions across the show’s expanded outdoor exhibition areas.”

Electra Mining Africa 2024 exceeded previous benchmarks for exhibitor participation, exhibition space and visitor attendance. Hefer noted that the 2026 edition is expected to be even larger, featuring more than 1,000 exhibitors alongside expanded exhibition space that includes the new Orange Zone.

“A growing exhibition reflects increased industry participation and innovation, offering visitors a broader and more diverse range of solutions to explore and evaluate,” noted Hefer. “Visitors will have access to a wide range of technologies, suppliers, and expertise in one location, reducing the time and cost associated with sourcing products and supplier engagement”.

International exhibitors and country pavilions will also introduce global innovations and emerging technologies to attendees. Beyond the exhibition itself, the event will provide networking, collaboration and knowledge-sharing opportunities through seminars, technical workshops and informal industry engagement.

Electra Mining Africa will take place at Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg, from 7 to 11 September 2026. Visitors can register through Electra Mining Africa

Enlit Africa targets investment readiness. (Image source: VUKA Group)

Across Africa’s power and water sectors, the project pipeline is rarely the problem. Announcements, memoranda of understanding and opportunity lists are everywhere. The harder question is whether those opportunities are ready for capital, ready for diligence and ready for decisions

That is where many projects still lose momentum. Investors, development finance institutions and lenders are not short of interest in African infrastructure. They are short of opportunities that arrive with enough structure, clarity and maturity to move quickly through assessment. Developers face their own difficult reality: permitting delays, uncertain offtake arrangements, stakeholder misalignment, grid constraints and project timelines that can shift before financing is secured.

The result is a persistent gap between project intent and bankable progress.

In practical terms, projects often stall because the fundamentals are not yet strong enough. Revenue certainty remains a major pressure point, particularly around offtake, tariff realism, creditworthiness and enforcement. Grid access is another critical issue, especially when connection capacity and transmission build-out cannot keep pace with development ambition. Permitting, land rights, risk allocation, data room readiness, governance, delivery capability, country risk and currency exposure all influence whether capital can move with confidence.

Across the continent, there are many strong project concepts. The bigger challenge is developing more opportunities that are investable at speed.

This is the challenge the Project & Investment Network, taking place at Enlit Africa 2026, is designed to address. Rather than treating investment conversations like ordinary networking, P&IN aims to create a more structured deal-making environment where investors, developers, utilities, public sector leaders and financiers can engage with clearer intent.

The emphasis is on mechanisms rather than marketing. Stronger matchmaking, sharper project briefings and decision-focused dialogue can help reduce the friction that often slows investment conversations. For developers, this means testing whether their projects are truly ready for investor scrutiny. For financiers, it means engaging with opportunities that are better aligned to mandates, risk appetite and delivery expectations. For public sector and utility leaders, it creates space to confront the delivery constraints that shape bankability in practice.

A key feature of the programme is its focus on what happens next. Too many infrastructure conversations end with broad interest but no disciplined follow-through. P&IN is intended to help participants define the immediate milestones that can move a project closer to investment readiness, whether that involves clearer risk allocation, stronger documentation, more realistic timelines or better alignment between stakeholders.

This matters because Africa’s infrastructure constraints are no longer abstract development challenges. They are delivery constraints affecting grid reliability, industrial growth, water security and economic competitiveness. Capital can play a transformative role, but only where opportunities are structured well enough for risk to be understood, priced and managed.

Enlit Africa 2026 takes place from 19 to 21 May at the CTICC in Cape Town, co-located with Water Security Africa, the Utility CEO Forum, the Municipal Forum, Women in Energy and the Project & Investment Network. Together, these platforms bring decision-makers into the same environment to confront the practical questions shaping Africa’s energy and water future.

For developers, investors, DFIs, utilities and public sector leaders, the message is clear: project ambition on its own will not unlock capital. The next frontier is bankability, decision velocity and disciplined execution.

Enlit Africa 2026 unites power leaders to address grid constraints, reform, investment and delivery across Africa. (Image source: VUKA Group)

Enlit Africa 2026 will bring together decision-makers from utilities, the private sector, government, industry and finance to address the business of power delivery across the continent, at a time when system constraints, reform efforts and urgent investment needs are converging

In South Africa, transmission bottlenecks continue to restrict new connections and generation evacuation, while municipal distribution challenges and tariff reforms are reshaping financial sustainability and incentives. At the same time, accelerating digitalisation is creating both new opportunities and operational risks. Across Africa, similar pressures are evident in different forms, including grid expansion readiness, utility performance, project bankability, procurement frameworks and the operational capacity required to deliver reliable power at scale.

Built on Enlit Africa’s year-round engagement platform, the 2026 programme centres on the theme Compounding impact: small changes, outsized outcomes. The focus moves beyond identifying challenges to highlighting practical actions that can improve grid capacity, strengthen distribution performance, enhance tariff credibility and convert data into scalable operational capability.

Pan-African participation: where Africa’s power business connects

Organised by VUKA Group, Enlit Africa serves as a collaborative platform for the continent’s power ecosystem, bringing together utilities, regulators, municipalities, developers, financiers and technology providers. The aim is to align stakeholders around tangible delivery outcomes, from projects reaching financial close to real grid connections and measurable operational improvements. With participants expected from more than 30 African countries, alongside international stakeholders, the event reinforces its role as a continental platform rather than a single-country forum.

Level 2: the executive deal layer (limited access)

A key feature of the event is the Level 2 experience, a curated executive environment designed to move beyond traditional conference participation and enable decision-focused engagement. It connects utility leaders, project owners, financiers and delivery partners through structured formats aimed at driving outcomes.

This includes the closed-door Utility CEO Forum and the Projects & Investment Network (P&IN), as well as dedicated meeting zones and targeted discussions where participants can test assumptions, assess project bankability and advance opportunities with relevant stakeholders. For delegates focused on investment, partnerships, procurement or project development, Level 2 is designed to turn insights into actionable next steps.

“Delivery improves when finance, regulation and operations are aligned to the same outcomes. Enlit Africa creates the platform for that alignment to move from theory to execution.” – Marcel du Toit, event director, Enlit Africa.

Transmission constraints: unlocking grid access and delivery

The 2026 programme places strong emphasis on grid access, a defining constraint across many markets. Discussions will address barriers to network expansion and generation evacuation, alongside delivery models and coordination strategies required to scale infrastructure. The programme also examines investment conditions needed to move projects from pipeline to operation, including regional integration and bankability considerations.

“Across Africa, the constraints are compounding: grid access, distribution performance, revenue certainty and the rapid shift to digital operations. Enlit Africa is where the business of power is discussed properly: what gets financed, what gets delivered and what keeps systems performing. The 2026 theme, ‘Compounding impact’, reflects our focus on the small, targeted changes that unlock outsized outcomes.” – Claire Volkwyn, head of content, Enlit Africa.

Municipal distribution and tariffs: making reform workable

As procurement models evolve, municipalities and distribution utilities must balance system performance with tariff structures that remain credible, affordable and financially sustainable. Enlit Africa 2026 will bring industry practitioners together to explore distribution readiness, tariff design in changing market conditions and the governance and technical interventions needed to restore reliability and revenue performance.

Digitalisation: from pilot projects to critical infrastructure

Digital transformation is shifting from ambition to operational necessity. Smart metering, enhanced system visibility and data-driven forecasting are becoming central to performance. The programme will examine real-world deployment, data governance and cybersecurity, as well as the operational capabilities required to ensure digitalisation delivers measurable value rather than added complexity.

Water Security Africa: a dedicated focus

Running alongside the main event, Water Security Africa will provide a dedicated platform addressing water resilience for cities and industry. The programme will bring together stakeholders to explore utility performance, water reuse and recovery, regulatory frameworks and investment-ready delivery models.

Enlit Africa 2026 will take place from 19–21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town. Further details on the programme and registration are available on the official website.