GEAS 2023 to open on a high-level Ministerial session addressing Africa’s energy transition plans
The second edition of the Green Energy Africa Summit (GEAS), to be held in Cape Town on 10th-11th October 2023, will open with a ministerial dialogue gathering some of Africa’s most dynamic energy markets.
The panel will welcome Hon. Lefoko Moagi, Minister of Minerals and Energy of Botswana; H.E. Aissatou Sophie Gladima Siby, Minister of Petroleum & Energy of the Republic of Senegal; Hon. Dr. Ing. Habtamu Itefa Geleta, Minister of Water and Energy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; and Hon. Okassai Opolot, Minister of State for Energy of Uganda.
These four African nations represent a very wide range of energy mixes and energy development opportunities. While Senegal seeks to diversify its energy mix away from diesel and heavy fuel oil (HFO) by adopting gas, wind and solar, Botswana is heavily reliant on coal and is looking at embracing additional and cleaner energy sources. Ethiopia is already Africa’s biggest renewable energy and hydropower market and has embarked on the development of its wind and solar industry. Finally, Uganda has successfully developed its hydropower and solar potential but has significant untapped potential to address the energy needs of its growing population.
Each market is advocating for its own path towards a high-energy and low-carbon future, and has growing financing requirements to fund these ambitions. Thankfully, Africa’s calls for a just energy transition have started being heard. In 2023 for instance, Senegal became the second African country to secure a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with the International Partners Group for an initial €2.5 billion.
However, and despite progress made by several African markets, energy poverty is still growing. Across most of the continent, industries complain about the lack of reliable and affordable energy, while hundreds of millions live in the dark and almost one billion Africans have no access to clean cooking.
The opening Ministerial panel at GEAS 2023 will address Africa’s energy journey head on and frame Africa’s position on the global energy transition ahead of COP 28 in Dubai. It will articulate the needs to build resilient and diversified energy mixes that focus on addressing Africa’s development needs of today while paving the way for a low-carbon future.
The Green Energy Africa Summit 2023 will take place at CTICC2 in Cape Town on October 10th-11th, 2023. For more information on the programme or to register today, click here.
