Finance

Pele Energy Group – Inspired By A Vision For Structural Change

South Africa’s Pele Green Energy (PGE) was one of 28 inaugural IPPs to be granted a power generation license in 2011. With a narrative of entrepreneurship, innovation and tangible impact, Gqi Raoleka, MD of Pele Green Energy, spoke to EnergyNet about the journey. Pele is 15 years old this year, tell us about your journey as an IPP […]

“Africa Has A More Difficult Energy Transition Challenge Than Most Other Regions In The World” – Olusola Lawson, Aiim

Olusola Lawson, Co-Managing Director at African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), on the new thinking on finance needed to fund Africa’s energy transition and the important discussions to be had at aef24. What are you most looking forward to at this year’s Africa Energy Forum? AIIM is proud to be sponsoring the AEF this year, […]

Holger Rothenbusch, British International Investment (Bii), On Keeping People Connected And Why Energy Transition Is A Process, Not A Step Change

With over 25 years of experience in development finance in emerging markets including Africa, Holger Rothenbusch leads BII’s infrastructure and climate finance program. He spoke to EnergyNet about supporting economic growth in a new era where infrastructure investments are more challenging and private capital is ever more needed, the importance of collaboration, and what governments […]

Deg – Patient, Long-Term Investors For Africa

Andreas Cremer, Director of Infrastructure and Energy at DEG, leads the debt financing of renewable energy, green hydrogen and infrastructure projects in Africa and Latin America, with a loan portfolio of over US$ 1 billion. He spoke to EnergyNet about challenges, de-risking, innovations in financing and moving towards a self-sustainable energy sector for Africa. What […]

European Investors In Readiness As Energy, Minerals, And Mining Ministers From Across Africa Prepare For Barcelona

More than 33 ministers and 100 high-level public sector officials from across Africa will travel to Spain for the 26th edition of the Africa Energy Forum (aef), 25-28 June, at the Fira de Montjuïc, Barcelona. With Spain’s commitment of $2.3 billion in funding to South Africa and its recently announced support for green hydrogen […]

Dfc, Sierra Leone Promote Access To Reliable Energy With Up To $412 Million In Additional Financing And Political Risk Insurance

DALLAS, TEXAS – The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s (DFC) Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) Nisha Biswal and Chief Minister of Sierra Leone David Moinina Sengeh today announced up to $412 million in financing and political risk insurance in support of the country’s plans to address rolling blackouts and expand its power system through renewable […]

Globeleq to Build Africa’s Largest Standalone Battery Energy Storage System in South Africa

This new reliable energy infrastructure will help tackle load-shedding – and keep the lights on. Globeleq, the leading independent power company in Africa, announced on Friday 5 April that its Red Sands project in the Northern Cape has been awarded Preferred Bidder status in South Africa’s Energy Storage Capacity Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (ESIPPPP). […]

Washington D.C. to Showcase African Energy Opportunities to U.S Investors at the 9th Powering Africa Summit (PAS24) this March

The Honorable Judith Pryor, First Vice President & Vice Chair, Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) will join the U.S. Government-led partnership, summit sponsor and PAS24 co-host, Power Africa, as well as ministers, government organizations, regulators and DFIs between 5-6 March at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. Government stakeholders, institutional investors, private financiers, […]

Meridiam and Rift Valley Energy – transforming the Tanzanian power mix

In July 2023, Meridiam announced its acquisition of Rift Valley Energy (RVE), in a move set to grow its renewable energy portfolio and support rural electrification in southern Tanzania. With both companies speaking at the 5th Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit (TECS24), EnergyNet caught up with Michael Gratwicke, CEO of RVE, and Matthieu Odoux, Senior Associate at Meridiam. […]

Tanzania and EAC at the centre of regional transmission expansion: Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit 2024

Confirmed as one of the most stable and important investment destinations on the continent, Tanzania prepares to host the fifth annual Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit (TECS) from 31 January to 1 February 2024 in Arusha, home of the East African Community (EAC). Investors from across industry, finance and government are convening to showcase Tanzania’s potential. […]

Power Africa: on accelerating energy access and the importance of in-depth conversations at PAS24

The Powering Africa Summit (PAS24) will mark the close of Power Africa’s 10th year Anniversary celebrations. As summit hosts, Power Africa talks to EnergyNet about the ideas, goals and opportunities to be discussed in March. Why is PAS 2024 important for Power Africa? The Powering Africa Summit 2024 is important for Power Africa because we are going […]

The Green Continent

Africa’s huge energy resources mean the continent is well placed to capitalise on gathering momentum behind clean energy technologies, if investment can be mobilised, reports Ian Lewis IRENA estimates that if Africa pursues an ambitious energy transition pathway, more than 12m transition-related new jobs could be created for 2019-2030. Africa’s energy sector is emerging blinking […]

How NIWIMNRO is Transforming the Sector for Women

EnergyNet spoke to Felicia Dairo from the Nigerian Indigenous Women in Mining and Natural Resource Organisation (NIWIMNRO) prior to their upcoming launch that is taking place on the 15th July in Abuja, Nigeria about NIWIMNRO and what they hope to achieve in the future. What inspired the creation of NIWIMNRO? It all began with a […]

AMDA and UNDP Partner to Accelerate Minigrid Deployment Across Africa

Cape Town, 25 June 2025 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in accelerating the deployment of sustainable minigrids across Africa. The MoU was signed on 19 June during the Africa Energy Forum (AEF) held in Cape Town, South Africa. The […]

Battery Storage

Globeleq’s Red Sands Battery Energy Storage Project Reaches Financial Close

CAPE TOWN, 1 July 2025: Globeleq, a leading independent power company in Africa and its project partner, African Rainbow Energy, have reached financial close on the 153 MW/612 MWh Red Sands battery energy storage project (BESS) in South Africa. The project is Africa’s largest standalone BESS facility to reach financial close. Signing of the project […]

TDB Group Signs Landmark Agreements With Leading Dre And Clean Cooking Companies To Deliver Clean Energy Access For 3 Million People Within A Year, As Part Of An Initial String Of Deals

The agreements signed on the sidelines of AEF are part of TDB Group’s Regional Energy Access Financing Platform, a first-of-its-kind platform supported by the World Bank’s ASCENT Program under Mission 300 Cape Town, 19 June 2025 – The Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), and its concessional and grant window, the Trade and Development […]

Richard Nelson, Coordinator, Power Africa

Speaker presenting at AEF event

Tech & Power Generation

The Energy Debate: Fossil Fuels vs. Renewables in Africa

H.E Honourable Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy & Digitalisation, ECOWAS

H.E Honourable Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy & Digitalisation, ECOWAS

H.E. Honourable Charles Umehai, Deputy Minister for Energy, Republic of Liberia: WA-ECS 2024

H.E. Honourable Charles Umehai, Deputy Minister for Energy, Republic of Liberia: WA-ECS 2024

aef 2025: Accelerating Partnerships to Develop Africa’s Energy Markets

Abstract image featuring elongated shapes

Joseph Anis, President & CEO, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Gas Power, GE Vernova

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Gqi Raoleka, MD, Pele Green Energy

Ademola Ogunbanjo, Executive Vice President, Oando Clean Energy