John Smelcer

Angela Simpson and Alexandra Clüver Private capital investors in Africa are successfully navigating a turbulent investment environment – shaped by global economic challenges and rapidly evolving regulations – and in the process, seizing exciting opportunities in the continent’s energy and infrastructure space. According to a recent AVCA report, Understanding the Context – Africa’s Infrastructure Financing […]

The Great Zimbabwe Hydro was co-founded in 2010 as one of the country’s pioneering independent power producers (IPPs). After years of resilience in the face of cyclones, funding hurdles, and construction challenges, the company successfully commissioned its hydroelectric plant in November 2024. Memory Mashingaidze, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Great Zimbabwe Hydro, reflects on […]

History was made today when Dr. Sidi Ould Tah was sworn-in as the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). At exactly 11:04 Abidjan time, on a rainswept Monday morning, Dr. Sidi took his oath-of-office, at the helm of Africa’s premier development finance institution succeeding Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina who has completed his […]

Vodacom has become the first company to fully operationalise virtual wheeling, marking a significant step forward in South Africa’s energy transformation journey. The company has delivered on a power purchase agreement (PPA) with leading IPP (Independent Power Producer) – SOLA Group – achieving a major breakthrough in procuring renewable electricity for commercial operations, while providing […]

With Zambia setting its sights on universal electricity access by 2030, accelerating rural electrification has become central to the mission. At the forefront of this transformation is ENGIE Energy Access (EEA), driving one of the country’s most dynamic solar mini-grid programmes. With 16 sites already powering communities and 71 more in the pipeline, EEA is […]

June 2025 | Africa Energy Forum Mission 300’s ambition to bring electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030 was one of the headline themes at aef 2025. But during Thursday’s session, “Mission 300’s Engagement with the Private Sector,” it became evident that the real test lies in translating that ambition into action. With approximately […]

Leading Africa-focused power generation company strengthens executive leadership with seasoned energy infrastructure veteran Accra, Ghana / Boston, Massachusetts (28 August 2025) – Endeavor Energy Holdings LLC, an Africa-focused independent power generation company backed by Denham Sustainable Infrastructure, is pleased to announce the appointment of Erik Granskog as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Endeavor Energy has […]

June 2025 | Africa Energy Forum With the geopolitical tectonic plates shifting in every corner of the world, largely towards a multipolar landscape where it’s difficult to know where to look for power and partnership, African energy is finding itself looking both externally and internally for a new way forward. Chief among these geopolitical shifts […]