A look back at Africa Energy Indaba 2019

African and global energy leaders convened at the 11th annual Africa Energy INDABA in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 18th to 21st February. Over 3,200 visitors and 1,100 registered participants took part in an event where more than 150 speakers and 274 African & global CEOs were able to discuss challenges and solutions for the African energy sector under the theme "Solutions for Africa".

The World Energy Council is proud to announce that H.E. Jeff Radebe, Minister of Energy, Government of the Republic of South Africa is now the Honorary Chair of the Council's South African Member Committee.  And H.E. Peter Bhembe, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Government of Kingdom of Eswatini became the Honorary Chair of the Council's Eswatini Member Committee.

 

H.E. Jeff Radebe, Minister of Energy, Government of the Republic of South Africa opened the main conference, by providing an outlook of the South African energy landscape and stressing the importance of partnerships and collaboration within Africa to find solutions to the challenges the Continent is facing.

Official Opening Ministerial Panel was built around the theme - Vision to Action: Driving Regional Integration and the Africa Power Vision. 

In his opening the moderator stressed the challenges of energy access to modern energy in Africa, the fast-growing population, and notably, the youngest population in the world. So, the great necessity to make progress to satisfy the needs of the population. This Panel, moderated by Mr. Sean Cleary, gathers the following speakers: H.E. Minster Jeff Radebe, South Africa; H.E. Minister John Peter Amewu, Ghana; Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, NEPAD Agency; Mr. Amadou Hott, AfDB; H.E. Dr Matar Al Neyadi, UAE; Dr. Christoph Frei, The World Energy Council.

At the conclusion of the Opening dialogue, Dr Christoph Frei  launched the 10th edition the World Energy Issues Monitor.

 

Dr. Frei also stressed three key points: The magnitude of change going far beyond energy, and into bringing prosperity for all, decentralization –today we have the tools, the tech and the business models to increase energy access in rural areas and last but not least, drivers of change in electrification –transport, transformation and utilization of electricity.

 

The World Energy Council's African regional meeting was chaired by Dr. Ibrahim Elham, the Council's Africa Vice Chair and moderated by our Secretary General Dr. Christoph Frei. Other panels featured such speakers as H. E. Minster Jeff Radebe (South Africa), H. E. Minister John Peter Amewu (Ghana), Dr Ibrahim Mayaki (NEPAD Agency), Mr. Amadou Hott (AfDB) and H. E. Dr Matar Al Neyadi (UAE)

Perspectives on which energy issues are keeping African energy leaders awake at night were delivered by HON Kornelia Shilunga from Namibia, Prof. Abubakar Sambo from Nigeria and Mrs. Kiren Maharaj from South Africa. Energy affordability remains the top cause of insomnia, due to high electricity prices and high connection fees, particularly affecting low-income households’ budgets and limiting the expansion of electricity access.

 

The Indaba Energy Leaders Dialogue (IELD) took place on the 19th of February and provided an opportunity for African energy leaders to meet in an informal way, thus realizing exponential growth opportunities, exploring new areas of collaboration critical to meet the challenges of achieving affordable, sustainable and secure energy for all, and enhancing energy systems resilience through cross-border cooperation and regional integration.