Africa's leading energy gathering in Cape Town drew ministers, investors and industry leaders from across the continent, with President Cyril Ramaphosa urging faster investment, stronger regional cooperation and pragmatic energy strategies to address Africa's vast electricity deficit.
The 18th Africa Energy Indaba, held from 3-5 March 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, concluded with strong participation from policymakers, ministers, investors, utilities and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Widely regarded as the continent's leading energy forum, the Indaba once again served as a platform for high-level dialogue, investment engagement and practical discussion about how to secure Africa's energy future.
A major highlight of the event was the presidential keynote address delivered by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, who emphasised the central role of energy security, infrastructure development and regional cooperation in unlocking Africa's economic potential.
Addressing delegates from across the global energy sector, Ramaphosa said the continent's vast natural resources, including solar, wind, hydropower, gas and critical minerals, position Africa to become a competitive energy producer while meeting its own development needs.
At the same time, he stressed the urgency of tackling the continent's electricity access gap. More than 600 million Africans still lack access to reliable power, he noted, underlining the need to accelerate investment in energy infrastructure and technological innovation.
Several important announcements and partnerships were made during the conference, reinforcing the Indaba's role as a catalyst for energy investment and collaboration.
One of the most notable developments came during Mission 300 Day, when the Rockefeller Foundation announced an additional $10m in support of Mission 300, an initiative led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The commitment highlighted the growing international momentum behind efforts to close Africa's energy access gap.
Nuclear energy also featured prominently on the agenda. During the Nuclear Forum, South Africa's Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia's Rosatom to strengthen cooperation in nuclear skills development, training and research. The agreement supports South Africa's ambitions to expand nuclear power capacity while developing a new generation of specialists in the sector and encouraging greater participation by women.
The forum also saw the signing of the Declaration to Triple Global Nuclear Capacity by 2050, in collaboration with the World Nuclear Association. Supporters of the initiative argue that nuclear energy will play an increasingly important role in ensuring energy security while supporting global decarbonisation efforts.
Infrastructure development and regional power integration were also central themes. A ministerial roundtable focused on the Africa Ten-Year Infrastructure Investment Plan for Cross-Border Interconnectivity examined ways to accelerate priority transmission and power infrastructure projects across the continent.
Participants highlighted the importance of improving project preparation mechanisms, strengthening cross-border coordination and mobilising both public and private investment to support regional energy integration. Energy leaders agreed that stronger interconnections and more effective regional power pools will be essential if Africa is to deliver reliable and affordable electricity at scale.
The Indaba also hosted the South African Investment Forum, organised by the country's Department of Electricity and Energy, which showcased a range of opportunities in South Africa's evolving energy sector. Investors were presented with projects spanning renewable energy, transmission infrastructure, gas-to-power developments, nuclear expansion and emerging energy technologies.
Across the conference programme, discussions focused on the need to strengthen energy security, accelerate project development and expand regional energy infrastructure. Participants also explored how Africa can pursue an energy transition that supports industrialisation and economic growth while meeting global sustainability objectives.
Delegates emphasised that investment in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure must increase significantly if Africa is to meet rising demand for electricity. Ministers and industry leaders also pointed to the importance of stronger regional power markets to improve reliability and unlock cross-border energy trade.
Natural gas was another major theme, with discussions at the Africa Gas Forum highlighting its potential role as a transition fuel capable of supporting electricity generation and industrial development while stabilising energy systems.
Speakers also stressed that stronger collaboration between governments, investors and development finance institutions will be essential to mobilise the large-scale financing required to transform Africa's energy landscape.
By bringing together decision-makers and global stakeholders, the Africa Energy Indaba continues to shape the continent's energy policy debate and investment pipeline. As Africa's demand for power grows and the global energy transition gathers pace, organisers say the forum will remain focused on fostering the partnerships and investment needed to power the continent's future.