Across Africa, energy users are increasingly weighing questions around cost, security of supply, carbon compliance, financing, energy efficiency and the commercial value of storage. At the same time, project developers and investors are under pressure to demonstrate stronger business cases, credible energy claims and clearer pathways from ambition to implementation.

These themes are explored in Solar & Storage Industry Insights Volume, published by ESI Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4rKRXZA), part of VUKA Group, bringing together analysis, industry perspectives and practical insights for businesses operating within the evolving energy transition.

Explore the Solar & Storage Industry Insights Volume (https://apo-opa.co/4jxxDbQ)

From renewable ambition to better energy decisions

For commercial and industrial energy users, the challenge is multidimensional. Solar remains an important part of the solution, but organisations must also understand how projects are financed, how energy efficiency can reduce demand before new generation is built, where storage creates measurable commercial value and how sustainability commitments translate into credible reporting and compliance.

Webinar series

ESI Africa is extending these conversations through a series of webinars focused on some of the practical issues facing C&I customers and project teams.

Carbon compliance and credible energy claims: What C&I customers must get right examines the importance of credible carbon and renewable energy claims for organisations facing increased scrutiny of their decarbonisation strategies. Watch the webinar on demand (https://apo-opa.co/4xSZ0AE)

Solar funding for dummies: Approaches and speedy options, looks at the financing routes available to organisations considering solar projects, and the decisions that can influence how quickly projects move forward. Watch the webinar on-demand (https://apo-opa.co/4xZyohA)

Case studies in C&I energy efficiency: This discussion shifts the focus to reducing consumption, examining practical examples of how businesses can improve efficiency, and manage energy costs and strengthen operational performance. Watch the webinar on-demand (https://apo-opa.co/4rGs4K5)

Moving projects from discussion to delivery

The same questions are shaping face-to-face industry discussions. At the C&I Energy + Storage Summit Johannesburg (https://apo-opa.co/4rIytEM), taking place on 28 and 29 October 2026 at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton, energy users, project developers, financiers and solution providers will examine the strategies businesses are using to improve power security and manage rising energy costs.

The programme moves from energy efficiency and demand management through to onsite generation, diversified energy sourcing and energy storage. It also examines the commercial value of storage beyond backup power, including peak shaving, demand charge management, resilience, renewable firming and hybrid solar-plus-BESS models.

Explore the C&I Energy + Storage Summit Johannesburg (https://apo-opa.co/4rIytEM)

The conversation extends to Zimbabwe on 17 November 2026, where the C&I Energy + Storage Summit Zimbabwe will be co-located with Zimbabwe Mining Week at Rainbow Towers in Harare.

With reliable energy capacity central to mining development and industrial growth, the one-day summit will connect mining companies, energy users, project developers, investors and solution providers around renewable energy, storage, project finance, operational cost containment and secure power supply.

Request more information about C&I Energy + Storage Summit Zimbabwe (https://apo-opa.co/4xZ64vE)

Bringing capital and projects into the same conversation

Technology alone will not determine the pace of Africa’s energy transition. Projects must also attract capital, demonstrate bankability and connect with the organisations able to help deliver them.

The Project & Investment Network, in partnership with the African Infrastructure Elites annual magazine, creates a platform for project owners, investors, financiers and solution providers to connect around power, energy and infrastructure opportunities, with a focus on moving viable projects closer to investment and implementation.

Explore the Project & Investment Network (https://apo-opa.co/4rFWCvD)

Recognising the projects already changing African infrastructure

While new projects move through development and financing pipelines, ESI Africa is also looking for the projects and people already demonstrating what successful infrastructure delivery can look like.

The African Infrastructure Elites: Projects and People magazine recognises leadership and project excellence across Africa’s infrastructure sectors, documenting the initiatives, partnerships and individuals helping turn complex energy, water and transport challenges into tangible outcomes.

Nominations provide organisations and industry professionals with an opportunity to put forward deserving projects and leaders for recognition and to contribute to a wider record of African infrastructure achievements.

Explore the African Infrastructure Elites and submit a nomination (https://apo-opa.co/3Tu9Sac)

What comes next for energy storage?

Storage is rapidly becoming a bigger part of the commercial energy conversation as businesses assess where batteries can provide resilience, tariff optimisation, renewable integration and new commercial value.

ESI Africa’s forthcoming Energy & Storage Industry Insights Volume 2026 will take a deeper look at the technologies, projects, investment considerations and market developments shaping the next phase of the sector.

Join the Energy & Storage Industry Insights Volume 2026 waiting list (https://apo-opa.co/3U1smyT)

Led by Director General Freddy Mwamba Kanyinku, the delegation will participate in discussions and networking engagements as the DRC seeks to strengthen mineral certification, traceability and value addition across its mining sector.

AMW 2026 coincides with the DRC’s drive to unlock an estimated $24 trillion in mineral wealth, with CEEC strengthening the certification and traceability systems needed to support investment and local value addition.

A key milestone for CEEC in 2026 was the certification of the DRC’s first lithium exports. In July, the agency certified the first lithium lots destined for international markets from Manono Lithium, expanding its role as lithium emerges alongside established Congolese mineral supply chains including copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds and 3T minerals.

The milestone comes as lithium emerges as a new component of the DRC’s critical-minerals strategy and demonstrates the importance of robust certification systems as the country diversifies its mineral production base and brings new projects online.

CEEC is also decentralizing its analytical and certification infrastructure across key provinces to improve operational oversight. Recent developments include the launch of a dedicated traceability office at Kamoto Copper Company in Lualaba Province, aimed at tracking copper and cobalt flows.

The agency is also developing its Lubumbashi National Laboratory to facilitate localized mineral analysis. The facility is scheduled for completion before the end of 2026 and is being developed to support mineral analysis and certification, with the complex targeting ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

CEEC is also expanding its international engagement as mineral diplomacy becomes increasingly important to the development of critical-mineral supply chains. In 2026, the institution acquired a representative building in Durban, South Africa, creating a platform for greater engagement with regional and international mining stakeholders and supporting the promotion of Congolese mineral products, traceability and responsible sourcing.

Against this backdrop, AMW 2026 provides an ideal platform for CEEC executives to engage with international investors, mining companies, governments, financial institutions and technology providers exploring opportunities across the DRC’s mining sector.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 30, 2026/APO Group/ –ESI Africa’s Powering Mines & Industry Volume examines the infrastructure decisions that are now critical to competitive and sustainable mining operations.

Energy security may dominate conversations around African mining operations, but power is only one part of a bigger infrastructure challenge.

Reliable electricity, affordable energy, secure water supply, effective rehabilitation and access to investment are interconnected considerations for mines looking to protect production while responding to sustainability, regulatory and cost pressures.

These issues sit at the centre of ESI Africa’s Powering Mines & Industry Volume, bringing together industry analysis and practical perspectives on the infrastructure realities shaping mining operations.

Published by ESI Africa, part of VUKA Group, the volume explores the technologies, strategies and partnerships influencing energy, water and long-term operational resilience.

Explore Powering Mines & Industry Volume (https://apo-opa.co/4AFlSGx)

The mine resilience equation is getting more complex 

For energy-intensive operations, security of supply and affordability directly affect productivity and competitiveness. At the same time, water scarcity, rehabilitation requirements and infrastructure constraints are pushing water management further into strategic planning.

Three ESI Africa webinars explore these challenges from practical operational perspectives.

1. Powering Zimbabwe’s mines: Closing the energy gap, enabling energy continuity and cost certainty

This webinar will bring together mining and energy stakeholders to discuss practical solutions for powering Zimbabwe’s mining future and explore the investments, partnerships, and policy frameworks needed to close the energy gap. Register for the webinar (https://apo-opa.co/4yd8OG5)

2. From pit to plant: Scalable mine water rehabilitation and reuse

Explore approaches to managing mine water across the operational lifecycle, with a focus on scalable rehabilitation and reuse. Watch on-demand  (https://apo-opa.co/4dwGDuf)

3. From water risk to water resilience

Explore how water-intensive organisations can move from identifying supply risk to implementing practical resilience strategies. Watch on-demand  (https://apo-opa.co/4hnPaly)

Zimbabwe puts the power-mining relationship into focus

The relationship between energy capacity and mining development moves from digital discussion to an in-person platform in Harare this November.

The C&I Energy + Storage Summit Zimbabwe takes place on 17 November 2026 at Rainbow Towers, Harare, co-located with Zimbabwe Mining Week.

The one-day summit brings together mining companies, energy users, developers, investors, policymakers and solution providers to explore renewable energy, storage, project development, finance, cost containment and secure power supply.

For Zimbabwe’s mining industry, these are fundamental commercial questions. New production and industrial growth depend on the infrastructure needed to develop mineral resources reliably and competitively.

Explore C&I Energy + Storage Summit Zimbabwe (https://apo-opa.co/3VY48WN)

Connecting projects with capital

Solving infrastructure constraints requires viable projects and access to the organisations that can finance and deliver them.

The Project & Investment Network, in partnership with the African Infrastructure Elites annual magazine, connects project owners with investors, financiers and solution providers across Africa’s power, energy and infrastructure sectors, helping create pathways from project opportunity to implementation.

Explore the Project & Investment Network (https://apo-opa.co/46N5I09)

Recognising African infrastructure excellence

Across mining, power, water and transport, organisations are already delivering projects that solve operational challenges, introduce new technologies and demonstrate what effective infrastructure delivery can achieve.

The African Infrastructure Elites: Projects and People annual magazine, hosted by ESI Africa, recognises the projects, partnerships and leaders contributing to infrastructure development across the continent.

Nominations are open for industry to put forward the projects and people whose work deserves wider recognition.

Explore the African Infrastructure Elites and submit a nomination (https://apo-opa.co/3TZsqPJ)

The Powering Mines conversation continues

The next Powering Mines & Industry Volume continues examining the infrastructure, operational and investment solutions shaping mining and C&I markets’ energy, water and transport.

Join the Powering Mines & Industry 2026 waiting list (https://apo-opa.co/4d91Yd0)

Meet ESI Africa at Mining Indaba 2027

ESI Africa will be at Mining Indaba from 8 to 11 February 2027 at the CTICC in Cape Town, meeting mining, energy and infrastructure leaders from across the continent.

Companies and industry leaders attending the event can book an interview with ESI Africa to discuss projects, developments and the issues shaping Africa’s mining and energy sectors.

To arrange an interview, contact Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl, ESI Africa Editor-in-Chief: nicolette@wearevuka.com