Africa possesses vast natural resources and growing ambition. Ministers, utilities, investors, developers and innovators from across the continent and the globe will gather at the 19th Africa Energy Indaba 2027, Africa’s premier energy event, to accelerate energy generation, unlock billions in investment, secure bankable projects and power the continent’s industrial future through sustainable solutions, robust policy dialogue and transformative partnerships.
Africa’s energy imperative
With a population projected to reach 2,5 billion by 2050, Africa stands at the epicentre of global energy demand growth. Today, approximately 600 million Africans, nearly two out of every five people on the continent, still live without access to electricity. Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for more than 80% of the global electricity access deficit. Average per capita electricity consumption hovers around 500 kWh per year, compared to a global average of approximately 3700 kWh. This energy poverty constrains economic growth, industrialisation, education, healthcare and job creation.
Africa’s power demand is forecast to rise from an estimated 1028 TWh in 2025 to 2291 TWh by 2050, representing a compound annual growth rate of around 3%. Shorter-term forecasts from the IEA indicate electricity demand in Africa growing at an average of 4% annually through 2026 and beyond, more than double the average rate seen between 2017 and 2023. This surge is driven by rapid population growth, urbanisation, rising incomes, industrial expansion and increasing adoption of electric technologies.
Emerging economies, including those across Africa, are expected to drive nearly 80% of global additional electricity consumption through 2030. Africa’s abundant renewable energy potential, solar, wind, hydro and geothermal, positions the continent to meet this demand sustainably. Renewables already form a significant part of the energy mix, and their rapid deployment will be central to the just energy transition while delivering energy security and economic prosperity.
The platform for action
Set against this backdrop of urgent need and opportunity, Africa Energy Indaba 2027 will take place from 2 to 4 March 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Under the banner of igniting Africa’s power revolution, the event will focus on practical pathways to close the energy gap, attract investment and build resilient infrastructure. Key highlights include:
• High-level policy dialogues with African ministers and regulators shaping national energy strategies and the just transition.
• Deep-dive sessions on renewables, gas-to-power, nuclear, transmission and distribution, and innovative off-grid and mini-grid solutions.
• The B2B Connect Programme, enabling delegates to meet decision makers, discover bankable projects and forge partnerships that turn ambition into financed reality.
• An exhibition showcasing cutting-edge technologies, financing models and project pipelines ready for investment.
• Focused discussions on regional integration, AfCFTA-enabled energy trade, skills development and local content to ensure inclusive growth.
The Indaba will address critical themes including energy security, financing mechanisms to unlock billions in capital, the role of gas as a transitional fuel, nuclear development, and accelerating the just energy transition without compromising industrialisation goals.
Who should attend
The event targets government ministers and policymakers, utility executives and regulators, project developers and independent power producers, international and local investors, technology providers and solution innovators, and financial institutions and development finance organisations.
For more information contact Africa Energy Indaba,
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