Westminster Africa Business Association was delighted to host the Energy in Africa Forum in the Jubilee Room at the House of Commons.
The discussion focused on the practical and structural barriers preventing investment from reaching viable energy projects across Africa, and the need for the right commercial and regulatory conditions to turn opportunities into delivery.
We were pleased to hear insightful contributions from a distinguished group of speakers, including:
Saad Islam, Investment Director at British International Investment, who spoke about the importance of strengthening generation, transmission and last-mile access, while highlighting the chronic underinvestment in transmission infrastructure. He also outlined BII’s increasing focus on frontier markets and support for local and regional developers.
Karl Boyce, CEO of ARC Power, discussed the evolution of the mini-grid sector, ARC Power’s “FUSE” model, and what Mission 300 looks like in practice when delivery, infrastructure and financing challenges meet implementation on the ground.
Jon Marks, Chairman and Editorial Director of Cross-border Information Ltd, highlighted the need for cost-reflective tariffs and financially sustainable utilities to attract investment, while also pointing to Zambia’s growing importance alongside the DRC copperbelt.
Julian Horn of Savannah Energy, who spoke on the realities of financing renewable energy developments across African markets.
Liz Gregory of NucCol, who presented a compelling perspective on the role nuclear energy could play in Africa’s future energy mix and the opportunities this presents for UK expertise and technology.
Serigne Mansour GAYE, President of the Senegal-UK Chamber of Commerce, who highlighted Senegal’s expanding energy sector and opportunities for UK investment and partnership.
Franklin Juma, Chairman of the Kenya Oil & Gas Association, discussed the ongoing role of oil and gas in Africa’s energy transition.
The discussion also highlighted the need to match technologies to market realities, supported by stable regulation, viable tariffs and credible investment structures.
The forum reinforced that the greatest value in African energy will come not simply from identifying opportunities, but from solving the structural challenges that determine whether projects are financed, delivered and connected to reliable and affordable power for communities and businesses across Africa.
We were also honoured to hear from our lunch keynote speaker, H.E. Biruk Mekonnen, Ambassador of Ethiopia, who spoke about the significant investment and opportunities emerging in Ethiopia and the wider region.
Our sincere thanks to all our speakers and guests, and to AGL and British International Freight Association – BIFA for supporting this important discussion.
