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South Africa’s Ambitious, and Expensive, Energy Transition (By NJ Ayuk)

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South Africa has taken a proactive approach to developing its renewable energy sector and attracting investors

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 29, 2023/APO Group/ — 

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (www.EnergyChamber.org) and Author of A Just Transition: Making Energy Poverty History with an Energy Mix.

South Africa has great aspirations for its energy industry: Not only has the country committed to significant decreases in carbon emissions, but it is also intent on creating a thriving green economy that creates jobs and business opportunities throughout the country.

And with great ambitions come a great price tag, in this case, an estimated $99 billion.

No doubt about it — this is an optimistic vision. But I do not believe it’s beyond the realm of possibility.

In fact, the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC’s) new report, “The State of South African Energy,” forecasts a considerable increase in South Africa’s power generation mix between now and 2050, one that continues coal usage but adds natural gas and renewables. As a result, our report predicts, South Africa’s energy generation will see its carbon intensity drop from the current 829.38 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e) per megawatt hour (MWh—1,000 kilowatts of electricity generated per hour) to 250 kilograms of CO₂e/MWh in 2050.

However, South Africa, like the African continent, will need a pragmatic, multi-pronged approach to raising the necessary investment dollars to fund its energy transition. And that approach will have to include natural gas production and monetization.

A Strong Start

To its credit, South Africa has taken a proactive approach to developing its renewable energy sector and attracting investors. These efforts, in part, have been a response to the country’s decades-long struggle to deliver reliable electricity.

The nation sources more than 80% of its total energy supply from aging coal-powered plants, and Eskom, South Africa’s public utility, supplies more than 90% of the country’s electricity. While South Africa has a running average demand for roughly 27,000 megawatts (MW) of electrical power, Eskom struggles to produce an average of only 21,000 MW, a disparity that has culminated in the need for regular rolling blackouts, or load shedding, and a dire situation that has left South Africa’s population severely underserved.

Since 2007, the need for load shedding has steadily increased at an alarming rate, with 2022 taking the lead as the most load-shedding intensive year on record and December as its harshest month.

We must address these worsening conditions as the evolution of this crisis suggests it’s creeping rapidly toward a single outcome—the complete societal breakdown of Africa’s most industrialized and technologically advanced country.

Estimates for supporting this transition and expanding clean energy infrastructure over the next three decades run as high as $250 billion

To his credit, in February 2023, during his State of the Nation Address, South African President H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa declared a National State of Disaster in an effort to stem the tide of his country’s energy troubles. Along with this declaration, Ramaphosa introduced a new Ministry of Electricity, an appointment specifically tasked with decreasing the frequency and duration of load shedding and reversing Eskom’s direction.

These emergency measures come after more than a decade of positive progress toward the introduction of renewables to South Africa’s energy sector and promising investment developments seen in recent years.

Dating back to 2011, the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) saw policy adoptions that led to South Africa’s successful procurement of almost 9.7 gigawatts (GW) of capacity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the form of renewables like onshore wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, small hydro, and biopower. The success of the REIPPPP led to a relaunch of the program in 2019 with the goal of furthering the transition to renewables while alleviating energy poverty and creating new jobs.

That was followed by South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP). Unveiled at COP27 in November 2022, JET IP details the amount and extent of the funding required to successfully implement a decarbonization agenda in the country. Starting with an initial $8.5 billion in financing sourced from the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with France, Germany, the UK, the U.S., and the European Union, South Africa aims to initiate its transition away from fossil fuels, acknowledging that upwards of $99 billion in funding will be required through 2027.

Estimates for supporting this transition and expanding clean energy infrastructure over the next three decades run as high as $250 billion.

South Africa has exhibited a genuine commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the capacity for meeting the many necessary milestones on the way to those targets, and the understanding that getting there will require substantial outside investment.

Besides the demonstrated recognition that Eskom’s facilities require immediate revitalization to stabilize the country’s existing energy supply, the Ramaphosa administration exhibited its willingness for reform when it announced in August 2021 that it would raise the threshold for unlicensed electricity production from 1 MW to 100 MW. This regulatory adjustment cleared the path for the SOLA Group’s development of projects totaling approximately 4.5 GW while enhancing South Africa’s appeal to other private investors.

While South Africa has shown that it is taking the correct stance to begin combating the current energy crises with a partial focus on the eventual conversion to a low-carbon economy, it is the AEC’s position that the country must first develop and monetize its vast, untapped natural gas resources in the interim.

Reserve estimates for the Luiperd-Brulpadda project off South Africa’s southern coast indicate that 3.4 trillion cubic feet of gas and 192 million barrels of gas condensate await extraction, offering the nation just one of many opportunities to capitalize on its fossil fuel resources while attracting additional interest from the free market. The revenue raised by fast-tracking natural gas projects in the region could fund South Africa’s current efforts to restore its generation facilities and grid infrastructure while offering a consistent, economy-stabilizing income stream and a funding source for future endeavors.

By keeping its primary focus on addressing the immediate needs of its population, South Africa will remain on course toward manifesting its vision of a carbon-neutral future supported by renewables while attracting crucial investments and generating the necessary wealth to get there in time.

South Africa’s energy challenges will be front and center at African Energy Week scheduled to take place on 16-20 October in Cape Town.  To read more about South Africa’s energy ambitions, download the chamber’s full report (https://apo-opa.info/42oP0Ra).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Congo Is Turning Reserves into Bankable Projects – and the Investment Window Is Opening

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June 24, 2026

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Eni-led LNG expansion and ongoing deepwater investment are pushing the Republic of Congo’s energy sector toward more bankable projects ahead of the Congo Energy & Investment Forum 2027

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), June 23, 2026/APO Group/ –With LNG exports set to triple to 3 mtpa, upstream oil production targeting 500,000 bpd and a renewed push on local content, the Republic of Congo is positioning itself as one of Central Africa’s most investable hydrocarbon markets. Under the leadership of the newly-appointed Minister of Hydrocarbons, Stev Simplice Onanga, the country is prioritizing industry growth by balancing local content with reserve replacement and project advancement.

 

What sets Congo apart is not the scale of its reserves, but the pace at which those reserves are being turned into commercially viable projects. From Eni’s LNG expansion and TotalEnergies’ deepwater developments to brownfield optimization by Trident Energy and output growth at Ammat Global Resources, capital is flowing into projects with clearer monetization pathways and nearer-term returns.

Ahead of the Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2027 – the country’s leading platform for energy investment and partnerships – the story is shifting away from frontier potential toward bankable projects already under development.

Policy Reform Is De-Risking Investment

Congo’s investment case is being reshaped by the alignment of resource base, regulatory reform and project delivery. Established oil production, expanding LNG capacity and fiscal adjustments are gradually reducing above-ground risk.

Recent reforms led by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo have added structure to the sector. The Gas Code, introduced in October 2025, formalizes fiscal terms for gas commercialization, while the Gas Master Plan prioritizes flaring reduction and gas-to-power deployment, targeting 1,500 MW by 2030.

A new upstream licensing round is also under consideration, aimed at attracting fresh capital into both mature and frontier acreage. Together, these measures are improving visibility across upstream, midstream and downstream segments, with recent project activity reinforcing the shift.

The Projects Driving the Next Cycle

Deepwater oil remains central to Congo’s production outlook, with operators progressing both new developments and brownfield optimization. TotalEnergies is advancing work at the Moho licence following the April 2026 Moho G discovery, backed by a $500–$600 million infill drilling program targeting about 40,000 bpd in incremental output.

Local independent Ammat Global Resources is targeting 70% production growth from its Loango and Zatchi fields, where reactivated wells and upgraded platforms have already lifted output by 75%. Perenco continues steady gains, adding roughly 6,000 bpd through its 2025–2026 drilling program.

Trident Energy, after acquiring an 85% working interest in the Nkossa and Nsoko II assets in 2025, is focused on extending field life through subsea optimization and redevelopment work.

While oil continues to anchor revenues, gas is rapidly emerging as Congo’s fastest-growing segment. Eni’s Congo LNG project delivered its first cargo from Phase 2 in February 2026, following the startup of the Nguya FLNG unit in December 2025. Together with Tango FLNG, capacity has risen from 0.6 mtpa to 3 mtpa. Trident Energy has also proposed an FLNG project aimed at adding further capacity across the country’s gas market. The project is expected to operate as shared infrastructure, allowing multiple operators to process gas from their respective fields. This creates an outlet for associated gas that might otherwise be stranded, supporting the country’s broader diversification goals.

Local Content Is Reshaping Investment Terms

Beyond upstream policy, Minister Onanga has positioned local content as a central pillar of Congo’s investment framework, and a key determinant of how capital is structured and deployed.

Decrees 2019-342, 343, 344 and 345 set requirements around subcontracting, workforce localization and training commitments, with the effect being a gradual shift in how projects are structured and how partnerships are formed. Operators are increasingly assessed not only on technical delivery but on in-country value creation, including partnerships with local firms and skills development. Logistics, maintenance and other service areas are increasingly channeled through domestic providers.

At CEIF 2027 – taking place June 1–3 in Brazzaville – attention will shift to what is moving forward and to the investors positioned to take part in that pipeline. Congo’s energy sector is no longer defined by potential alone: projects are moving, capital is being committed and policy is starting to catch up with activity on the ground.

As the Republic of Congo moves from reserves to revenue, the signal to investors is clear: this is already unfolding, not a future opportunity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

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Afreximbank secures double honours at the 2026 International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Awards for excellence in strategic communications

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June 24, 2026

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The Award of Excellence for IATF2025 recognises the successful communications and stakeholder engagement programme delivered around the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair, Africa’s premier trade and investment event

CAIRO, Egypt, June 23, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has been recognised with two prestigious honours at the 2026 International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious awards programmes for strategic communications.

 

The Bank received an Award of Excellence in Special and Experiential Events category for the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) held in Algiers, Algeria and an Award of Merit in the Social Media category for its Afreximbank Social Media Campaigns, reaffirming Afreximbank’s commitment to delivering impactful communications that advance its mandate of promoting trade, investment and industrialisation across Africa and the Caribbean.

We are delighted to receive these two awards, which attest to the expertise, creativity and efficiency of Afreximbank’s communication

The Award of Excellence for IATF2025 recognises the successful communications and stakeholder engagement programme delivered around the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair, Africa’s premier trade and investment event. IATF2025 brought together governments, businesses, investors, buyers, sellers and entrepreneurs from across Africa and beyond, creating a platform for trade and investment opportunities while advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The communications campaign played a pivotal role in driving global awareness, stakeholder participation, media visibility and engagement before, during and after the event, while showcasing the scale, ambition and dynamism of African enterprise and reinforcing a positive narrative about Africa’s capacity to trade, industrialise and compete on the global stage. Over 120,000 delegates attended IATF2025 in person and virtually, with deals worth over US$50 billion recorded.

The Award of Merit for Afreximbank Social Media Campaigns recognises the Bank’s strategic use of digital platforms to engage stakeholders, amplify its developmental impact and elevate conversations around trade, industrialisation, economic integration and investment opportunities across Africa and the Caribbean. Through a combination of compelling storytelling, thought leadership content, executive advocacy, multimedia production and real-time event coverage, Afreximbank’s social media platforms have continued to expand their reach and influence among policymakers, businesses, investors, development partners and the wider public. Among these platforms is the Afreximbank TV, a digital TV channel that is wholly owned and managed by Afreximbank, whose fifth edition was celebrated with dedicated coverage of IATF2025, providing live coverage of the activities to both pan African and global audiences.

Anne Ezeh, Director & Global Head, Communications and Events at Afreximbank commented: “We are delighted to receive these two awards, which attest to the expertise, creativity and efficiency of Afreximbank’s communications. As a pan African multilateral financial institution, we see storytelling as a powerful tool for advancing our mission — ensuring our initiatives, events, programmes and key announcements not only inform, but also inspire confidence, deepen engagement and amplify Africa’s transformation. These awards reinforce our resolve to continue delivering world-class communications that elevate African voices and projects a bold and authoritative narrative of the continent.”

Ms. Ezeh added that through innovative storytelling, digital engagement and integrated campaigns, the Bank will continue to amplify the impact of its programmes and partnerships  to project a more authentic narrative of Africa, one defined by opportunity, innovation, resilience and growing influence in the global economy.

For more than five decades, the IABC Gold Quill Awards have recognised excellence in strategic communications globally, celebrating programmes and campaigns that demonstrate measurable impact, innovation, creativity and outstanding execution. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of achievement in the communications profession, the awards are judged through a rigorous and independent evaluation process conducted by experienced communication leaders from around the world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 

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Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Institute Unveils 2025 Annual Report During Group Annual Meetings in Baku

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June 24, 2026

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In 2025, IsDBI significantly expanded its footprint in Islamic finance transformation, approving 25 new technical assistance projects valued at US$4.14 million and completing 19 projects worth US$3 million

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23, 2026/APO Group/ —

The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) has released its 2025 Annual Report during the 2026 IsDB Group Annual Meetings held in Baku, Azerbaijan, showcasing a year of expanded impact in Islamic finance transformation, innovative solutions, and capacity development.

 

The report highlights how IsDBI strengthened its role as a global knowledge leader by advancing innovative solutions and scaling support to Member Countries through knowledge-based interventions, Islamic finance grants, and strategic partnerships.

In 2025, IsDBI significantly expanded its footprint in Islamic finance transformation, approving 25 new technical assistance projects valued at US$4.14 million and completing 19 projects worth US$3 million, supporting countries in strengthening regulatory frameworks and promoting inclusive financial systems.

Since 2013, the Institute’s interventions in this regard have reached over US$27.57 million across 181 projects benefiting more than 34 countries, underlining its sustained contribution to development outcomes across the Islamic world.

I am pleased to note that the Institute has continued to strengthen its unique role in the global development ecosystem

The Annual Report highlights major progress in IsDBI’s three flagship transformative projects, namely Awqāf Free Zones, Digital Postal Islamic Financial Services, and Smart Countertrade System, which have all advanced to pilot-ready stages. These initiatives aim to address global challenges such as financial inclusion, food and energy security, and trade resilience.

Furthermore, the Institute accelerated its focus on digital innovation in Islamic finance, enhancing its Islamic Finance Artificial Intelligence Assistant (IFAA) and hosting its first AI Hackathon on Islamic Finance, engaging more than 40 teams in developing cutting-edge solutions aligned with industry standards.

Human capital development in Islamic finance also remained a cornerstone of IsDBI’s work in 2025, with the delivery of over 20 training programs reaching around 500 professionals across Member Countries. A key achievement in this area was the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program, a flagship initiative equipping emerging leaders from 20 countries with innovation-driven and values-based entrepreneurship skills. The program was designed and implemented in collaboration with Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Saudi Arabia.

The Institute also strengthened its thought leadership through flagship publications, global partnerships, and digital engagement, reinforcing its position as a leading voice in Islamic economics and finance.

Commenting on the issuance of the Annual Report, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said: “I am pleased to note that the Institute has continued to strengthen its unique role in the global development ecosystem by bridging knowledge creation, building human capital, and designing innovative solutions to address economic challenges.”

The 2025 Annual Report is accessible on IsDBI website here (https://isdbinstitute.org/product/isdbi-annual-report-2025/).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

 

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