Titled Regional Cooperation, Investment and Energy Security, the panel will feature Awow Daniel Chuang, Minister of Petroleum of South Sudan; Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda; Silvester Kasuku, Advisor, Governance, Executive Office of the President, Kenya; and Wahib Ali Boulo, Director of Hydrocarbons, Djibouti.

Their participation comes as East Africa enters a new exploration and production cycle, backed by the start of upstream projects in Uganda and Kenya, a drive to strengthen cross-border trade by Djibouti and efforts to increase crude production in South Sudan. Regional cooperation is supporting these activities and SSOP 2026 will provide a platform to explore East Africa’s broader energy renaissance.

Minister Chuang joins the event as South Sudan opens its upstream market to international investors. Under efforts to raise production from 174,000 barrels per day (bpd) to around 230,000 bpd in the near term, the country is inviting investors to support brownfield development, accelerate exploration and expand refining capacity. Around 14 blocks are currently available.

Uganda is also promoting investment in exploration as the country prepares to start oil production from the Kingfisher and Tilenga oilfields in June 2027. The fields represent the country’s entry into commercial oil production. Crude will be exported via the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, currently 92% complete, which connects the fields to Tanzania’s Port of Tanga. To sustain upstream investment, the country also plans to launch a licensing round in 2026/2027.

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Kenya is preparing to join East Africa’s oil producers as the country prepares for first production from the South Lokichar Basin in December 2026. Developed by Gulf Energy, the project targets 20,000 bpd in its first phase and 50,000 bpd in its second. The project coincides with investments in the downstream sector. In late-September 2026, Nigeria’s Dangote Group launched construction activities at a 700,000-bpd refinery in Lamu. A South Sudanese delegation, led by Minister Chuang, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

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As regional neighbors prepare for commercial oil production, Djibouti continues to strengthen its cross-border partnerships. The country signed an agreement with South Sudan in 2025 to develop the White Nile Trade Corridor, which aims to establish river and dry-port infrastructure in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Renk, connecting South Sudan to international trade routes through Djibouti. Boulo’s participation at SSOP 2026 creates new pathways for strengthened regional ties.

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Returning for its seventh edition under the theme Resource Renaissance – Energy-Fueled Growth for a New Generation, SSOP 2026 will provide a platform for policymakers, national oil companies, investors and infrastructure developers to examine how regional partnerships can strengthen energy security and accelerate project development.

For more information, visit www.SouthSudanOilPower.com.

Minister Vetah joins the event as Mauritania enters a new investment cycle anchored by efforts to scale gas monetization, incentivize exploration and open new opportunities in renewable energy and power development. The country has been an LNG exporter since early 2025, when the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, developed jointly with Senegal, shipped its first cargo. The project is now operating at full capacity, and gas is also set to anchor domestic power supply, with national utility Somelec and state miner SNIM having signed power purchase agreements with Saudi Arabia’s TAQA and Egypt’s GoGas Holding. The agreements fit within a gas-to-power program tied to the country’s Banda field and targeted for 2028.

Mauritania has committed to a fully private power generation model in which independent power producers develop all new plants, with two gas-fired projects in development expected to add a combined 550 MW to the grid. Renewables are scaling in parallel, led by a 220 MW solar-wind plant with 370 MWh of battery storage, developed under a 15-year concession with Somelec and slated to begin commercial production in the final quarter of 2026.

Minister Vetah’s career spans Mauritania’s gas sector and regional energy cooperation. During his previous term, Mauritania and Senegal signed the GTA gas sales agreement with bp and Kosmos Energy in 2020, and before entering government he served as General Manager of state gas company SOMAGAZ and as a consultant to TotalEnergies E&P Mauritania. Most recently, he spent nearly four years as High Commissioner of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River.

Regional cooperation has been an early priority for the minister, who was received in Dakar by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on October 16 and reaffirmed his commitment to cooperation between the two countries. At MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026, Minister Vetah will speak during the event’s Ministerial Dialogue, titled ‘Executing the MSGBC Region’s Energy Strategy’ and the Mauritania National Spotlight.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power, MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 takes place December 1-3 at the Centre International de Conférences Abdou Diouf (CICAD) in Dakar under the High Patronage of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. For more information and registration, visit www.MSGBCOilGasAndPower.com.

For African governments assessing nuclear power, the debate has moved beyond the broad question of whether the technology should form part of the energy mix. Attention is on the practical requirements of implementation, including:

• reactor selection,

• regulation,

• finance,

• skills and training,

• projecting structures, and

• long-term institutional capacity.

These issues are examined in the Industry Insights Nuclear Energy Volume, created by VUKA Group through its trusted media house, ESI Africa. The volume considers which nuclear technologies are leading the generation market, why other technologies are struggling, and which African countries have progressed furthest in translating nuclear intent into practical programmes.

Download Industry Insights Nuclear Energy Volume (https://apo-opa.co/4zB4Fx9)

The execution challenge extends beyond reactor technology

Technology selection remains an important part of any nuclear programme. The volume examines the reactor types available to the market and the technologies that are likely to attract attention once South Africa’s bidding and procurement processes begin.

Detailed coverage of the AP1000 and VVER-1200 places these designs within their development and operating contexts. The volume also considers the mined minerals supporting the nuclear energy future and the wider resource requirements behind the fuel cycle.

Reactor selection, however, is only one part of delivery. Nuclear programmes also require credible governance, regulatory capacity, appropriate skills, financing structures and sustained policy commitment.

The volume reflects this wider view by bringing together technology, markets and the practical conditions needed to advance projects.

Africa’s nuclear pathways are developing at different speeds

Several features within the volume examine Africa’s race for atomic power and the countries moving furthest towards implementation.

The coverage considers why nuclear energy is becoming an execution question for governments rather than a purely philosophical discussion. It also examines the cost of excluding nuclear power from long-term planning and what must happen to move programmes from a national vision towards bankable reality.

Each country will need to assess nuclear development against its own electricity demand, financial position, regulatory environment and institutional capabilities. Comparing progress across African markets can nevertheless help decision-makers understand the different pathways available and the foundations that need to be established before procurement or construction begins.

Financing determines whether policy becomes a programme

Nuclear development involves large capital requirements and long planning and delivery periods. The structure of a programme is therefore as significant as its technical case.

Projects must be supported by clear ownership arrangements, credible institutions and financing models suited to their development timelines. Governments and utilities must also consider how risks will be allocated and how programmes will retain continuity across planning, procurement, construction and operation.

The volume’s focus on moving the conversation from vision to bankable reality places finance within this broader delivery system. It examines the conditions needed before nuclear ambition can become an investable infrastructure proposition.

Understanding Africa’s emerging nuclear market

The ESI Africa on-demand webinar Africa’s emerging nuclear power market extends the discussion by examining the factors influencing nuclear development across the continent.

It provides a further resource for stakeholders assessing the direction of the market, the technologies under consideration and the requirements associated with implementing new nuclear programmes.

Watch Africa’s emerging nuclear power market on-demand (https://apo-opa.co/4ztOrpf)

Nuclear within Africa’s wider energy conversation

Nuclear energy will form part of the wider discussion around generation, investment and electricity-system development at Enlit Africa, taking place from 11 to 13 May 2027 at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa. As the host media partner, ESI Africa will once again conduct in-person studio interviews at the event.

The event brings together stakeholders from across the power and energy sector to examine the policies, technologies, investments and delivery models influencing Africa’s electricity future.

Explore Enlit Africa 2027 (https://apo-opa.co/4BQA003)

Connecting infrastructure plans with capital

Large infrastructure programmes require more than national ambition. Projects need to be structured, tested and connected with organisations able to finance and support their delivery.

The Project & Investment Network, in partnership with African Infrastructure Elites: Projects and People annual magazine, hosted at Enlit Africa 2027 connects project owners with investors, financiers, developers, offtakers and solution providers. Its focus is on strengthening project propositions, building bankability and moving viable African energy and water projects closer to implementation.

Submit a project to the Project & Investment Network (https://apo-opa.co/4fkfxHk)

Recognising infrastructure leadership and delivery

African Infrastructure Elites: People and Projects 26/27 documents the projects, partnerships and people contributing to infrastructure delivery across the continent.

As Host Media Partner of the Project & Investment Network, the publication connects the investment discussion with evidence of implementation and achievement. Readers can join the waiting list for the forthcoming edition.

Join the African Infrastructure Elites 26/27 waiting list (https://apo-opa.co/4C87zLx)

ESI Africa’s next related sector discussion will continue through the Smart Solutions & Data Centres Volume 2027, examining the technologies and infrastructure systems influencing growing digital demand.

Explore Smart Solutions & Data Centres Volume 2027 (https://apo-opa.co/4An2hKo)