Power
New energy conference launched in South Africa
A new industry event named Africa Energy will debut near Johannesburg next year to address regional power sector demands, infrastructure expansion and technology integration.
Key points
- The Africa Energy conference will take place at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.
- The inaugural event is scheduled to run from October 31 to September next year under the patronage of the Department of Electricity and Energy.
- Organisers expect over 5 000 delegates, including investors, utilities and technology providers.
What happened
A new professional gathering for the electricity sector has been announced in South Africa. According to Polity.org.za reporting, the event will be called Africa Energy and will be hosted at the Gallagher Convention Centre located between Johannesburg and Pretoria. The initiative is being organised by the inD Group, which is a joint venture between UK-based Informa and the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The Department of Electricity and Energy is providing official patronage for the inaugural event. Ministry spokesperson Tsakane Khambane noted that the platform will facilitate engagement regarding generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and efficiency across the wider region, according to Polity.org.za. Mark Ring, energy portfolio director at inD, highlighted that international exhibitors from countries such as China, India, Pakistan, and Russia have already confirmed their participation.
Programme and focus areas
The conference will center on four primary market segments: generation, transmission and distribution, energy storage, and efficiency. In addition, the agenda will feature a specialised content track addressing the electricity and infrastructure requirements of artificial intelligence and data centres. Organisers project an attendance of more than 5 000 participants, drawing from utilities, major industrial energy consumers, engineering firms, project developers, and international investors.
Why it matters
Conferences of this scale highlight the commercial and infrastructure pressures facing major African electricity markets. South Africa registered an electricity use per person of 3 308.2 kWh in 2024, alongside a grid electricity access rate of 90.2 percent, according to World Bank figures provided by CEII. Meanwhile, renewable sources accounted for only 6.4 percent of the country's electricity output in 2021. As regional economies expand and new demand emerges from digital infrastructure like data centres, substantial capital allocation is required across the power value chain. For investors and policymakers across the continent, structured platforms that connect international capital with local generation and transmission projects remain critical to addressing persistent supply deficits and accelerating energy transitions.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Grids decide whether generation becomes power that homes and businesses can rely on. Generation mix, transmission and distribution losses, and tariffs together shape reliability and the case for investment.
90.2% of people in South Africa had electricity in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
