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As Africa scales upstream development, industrial expansion and cross-border energy trade, access to development finance and sophisticated legal advisory has become indispensable to turning investment commitments into operational projects. Reflecting this shift, African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from October 12–16 – will welcome senior representatives from South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and pan-African legal and advisory firm CLG to this year's speaker lineup.

The participation of these esteemed firms at AEW 2026 will provide delegates with valuable perspectives on the financial, legal and institutional frameworks needed to accelerate investment and support long-term industrial growth across the continent.

The IDC joins the conference following one of its most significant announcements of 2026. In late July, the state-owned development finance institution signed a joint framework agreement with Afreximbank targeting $8 billion in financing to strengthen South Africa's industrial base, expand manufacturing capacity and support infrastructure development under the African Continental Free Trade Area. The initiative reinforces the institution's growing role in mobilizing large-scale capital for industrialization while creating new opportunities for energy, mining and strategic infrastructure projects.

Under its 2026/27 strategic plan, the IDC has also committed R38.5 billion toward industrial development, including dedicated funding for local industrialists, women and youth-owned businesses. These initiatives underscore the organization's expanding mandate as both a development financier and industrial catalyst.

Against this backdrop, Acting Divisional Executive for Mining, Metals, Infrastructure and Energy Nina Yose brings extensive experience to this year's event. At AEW 2026, she is expected to offer valuable insight into how development finance institutions can unlock investment, strengthen capacity and support the next generation of African energy and infrastructure projects.

Complementing the financing perspective, CLG arrives at AEW 2026 as one of Africa's premier legal and corporate advisory firms. Earlier this month, CLG's Central African practice provided guidance on the Republic of Congo's certified electronic invoicing system, helping companies navigate new compliance requirements affecting business operations across the region.

xRepresenting the firm at AEW 2026, Nigeria Office Director and Group Managing Counsel Adeleke Alao brings extensive expertise in project finance, cross-border transactions and energy regulation. Joining him, Director of Tax & Legal for Central Africa Grace Yella offers deep knowledge of tax, corporate structuring and regulatory compliance throughout the CEMAC region. Together, they are positioned to provide delegates with practical perspectives on managing legal risk, facilitating investment and creating regulatory certainty for Africa's evolving energy sector.

“Mobilizing investment requires more than capital alone,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Strong development finance institutions and world-class legal expertise are essential to delivering projects, strengthening investor confidence and ensuring Africa captures greater value from its natural resources.”

The participation of these finance and legal institutions reflects the interconnected nature of Africa's energy sector, where investment success depends on capital, sound governance and regulatory certainty working in tandem. As governments and investors pursue the continent's next wave of oil, gas, mining and infrastructure developments, AEW 2026 will provide a vital platform for shaping the financial and legal frameworks needed to turn opportunity into long-term economic growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Russell Baatjies, Group Chief Executive of Transnet Freight Rail, has been confirmed as a speaker at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – Africa's premier gathering for the mining industry – taking place October 14-16 in Cape Town.

Baatjies will participate in the Regional Connectivity: Financing Africa's Mineral Infrastructure panel, where he is expected to discuss Transnet's strategy to modernize South Africa's freight rail network, expand private sector participation and strengthen regional logistics corridors to support mining growth and cross-border trade.

His participation comes as South Africa accelerates sweeping logistics reforms aimed at removing infrastructure bottlenecks and unlocking greater investment across its mining sector. As the country seeks to mobilize R2 trillion to develop its critical minerals industry – including an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore resources – expanding rail and port capacity has become central to increasing exports of coal, platinum group metals, manganese, chrome and iron ore while improving regional trade connectivity.

In May 2026, Transnet signed rail access agreements with 11 Train Operating Companies (TOCs) serving the coal, manganese, container, fuel and general freight sectors, marking a major step toward opening the national freight rail network to private operators. The agreements are expected to add 24 million tons of annual freight capacity, with the potential to increase to 52 million tons over the next five years, supporting South Africa's goal of increasing annual rail volumes from approximately 180 million tons to 250 million tons by 2030.

Building on these reforms, Transnet launched the procurement process in June 2026 for The Leasing Company, a rolling stock leasing platform designed to improve access to locomotives and wagons for both established and emerging TOCs. The initiative is expected to increase asset utilization, strengthen freight capacity and attract greater private investment into Southern Africa's rail sector.

The company is also reinforcing its financial position to accelerate infrastructure modernization through major financing agreements, including a €300 million loan from Agence Française de Développement, a €350 million loan from the European Investment Bank, a $278 million facility from the New Development Bank, a $1 billion loan from the African Development Bank and a R94.8 billion government guarantee package supporting its long-term recovery and investment program.

Alongside infrastructure investment, Transnet is strengthening collaboration with the mining industry to improve export capacity through strategic agreements with Exxaro Resources, United Manganese of Kalahari, Hotazel Manganese Mines and Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mining, reinforcing efforts to support higher mining production through more efficient logistics.

At AMW 2026, Baatjies is expected to examine how rail modernization, private sector participation and regional logistics integration can unlock new mining investment while strengthening Africa's mineral value chains and improving access to global markets.

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

CEM Africa 2026 will return to the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town from 18–20 August, bringing together senior customer experience, marketing, digital, customer service, technology and transformation leaders for the 14th edition of Africa's leading customer experience summit.

With organisations across the continent under growing pressure to improve customer outcomes while navigating AI adoption, automation, rising expectations, fragmented journeys and commercial scrutiny, the 2026 programme has been built around a central question: how can businesses use technology to improve customer experience at scale without losing trust, relevance or the human connection?

Across three days, CEM Africa will combine strategic conference discussions, hands-on workshops, technology demonstrations, an exhibition, networking activations and peer-to-peer exchange, giving delegates the opportunity to move from big-picture industry questions to practical frameworks they can apply inside their organisations.

A speaker line-up rooted in real CX leadership

The 2026 speaker faculty brings together leaders working directly across customer experience, marketing, digital transformation, customer service, commerce, technology and organisational change.

Among those joining CEM Africa 2026 are:

• Bruce Whitfield, business journalist and best-selling author

• Khensani Nobanda, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Nedbank

• Francois Retief, Head of Customer Experience, FNB

• Martin Urrutia, global toy industry leader

• Marnitz Van Heerden, Head of Customer Experience, Discovery Limited

• Grace Brown, Head of Customer Experience and Client Services, JSE

• Khwaṱhelani Tshikovhi, Head: Santam Experience and Client Care, Santam Insurance

• Shaun Edmeston, Director of Customer Experience, Absa Bank Mauritius

• Job Thomas, Chief Customer Officer, WooCommerce

• Richie Sobayeni, Group Head of Customer Experience Design, Equity Group Holdings

• Julia Ahlfeldt, Customer Experience Strategist and Business Advisor

• Rashid Toefy, Deputy Director-General, Department of Economic Development and Tourism

• Katie Stabler, Founder and Director, CULTIVATE Customer Experience by Design

• Charlie Stewart, CEO, Rogerwilco

• Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Executive Director, WIMBIZ

• Wavi Mungala, Board Director, Institute of CX – Kenya

The wider faculty spans financial services, retail, technology, insurance, e-commerce, public sector, consulting and customer operations, reflecting the increasingly cross-functional nature of customer experience.

From AI experimentation to measurable outcomes

Artificial intelligence will be one of the defining conversations at CEM Africa 2026, but the programme moves beyond broad speculation about AI to focus on where organisations are seeing - or still struggling to achieve - real operational and commercial value.

Day One will examine how African organisations can move from AI pilots to production, including governance, data readiness, agent co-pilots, voice AI, speech analytics, conversational AI and AI-driven personalisation.

The agenda also tackles the questions surrounding responsible adoption. Sessions will examine AI governance and ethics, privacy, POPIA, customer consent and the challenge of automating at scale without damaging trust.

A dedicated discussion, “Will AI Make Your Brand More Trustworthy?”, will explore whether increased automation strengthens customer confidence or risks undermining it, before the day closes its content programme with the audience-led town hall “Will Humans Still Matter in a World of AI-Driven Customer Experience?”

Data, insight and the business case for CX

For leaders under pressure to demonstrate the commercial return on customer experience investment, CEM Africa will put measurement firmly on the agenda.

Workshops will address customer data quality, real-time insight, first-party data strategy, predictive analytics and Voice of Customer, alongside practical sessions on building an end-to-end CX scorecard, customer lifetime value and mapping journey costs.

Delegates will also be able to explore how to prove CX ROI to executive teams, connecting customer experience activity to revenue uplift, churn reduction, operational efficiency and cost-to-serve.

The emphasis throughout is on turning customer insight into decisions and measurable business outcomes rather than collecting more data without action.

Designing customer journeys that work in African markets

The programme will also address the practical realities of customer engagement across diverse African markets.

Topics include omnichannel journey design, mobile-first experiences, WhatsApp as a service channel, self-service, proactive CX and reducing friction across high-volume journeys such as onboarding, billing, claims and fulfilment.

Sessions will examine how organisations can create accessible experiences for customers with different levels of digital literacy, connectivity and channel preference, while maintaining consistency between physical, digital and human-assisted interactions.

African market realities also feature in discussions on sentiment analysis, conversational AI, language, code-switching and customer behaviour.

The people behind customer experience

Technology is only one side of the CX equation.

CEM Africa 2026 will look closely at employee experience, organisational culture and the changing capabilities required of customer-facing teams.

Sessions will cover customer-centric culture, employee resilience, burnout, hybrid CX teams, human-centred service, AI upskilling, cross-functional collaboration and change management.

The programme will also explore the relationship between employee experience and customer outcomes, recognising that organisations cannot sustainably improve CX without equipping and engaging the people responsible for delivering it.

What the three days will look like

Tuesday, 18 August – Day Zero

CEM Africa begins with an afternoon dedicated to registration, community engagement and relationship-building ahead of the main conference programme.

Delegates can expect networking activities and activations, including tastings, community conversations, the CEM Networking Padel Tournament and sponsored welcome drinks.

The format is designed to give speakers, delegates, partners and industry leaders an opportunity to begin making connections before the formal summit gets underway.

Wednesday, 19 August – Day One

Day One opens with a strong focus on trust, relevance and measurable customer experience outcomes.

The main stage begins with Deshnie Govender's opening keynote, “The Culture-Led Customer: The Emerging Markets Playbook for Building Trust, Relevance and Loyalty”, followed by sessions examining the future of AI-powered customer experience, journey-led CX orchestration and business journalist and best-selling author Bruce Whitfield's keynote, “The Trust Advantage”, exploring how trust can reduce friction and unlock better business results.

From late morning, the programme moves into a series of parallel workshops and panels built around some of the most pressing issues facing CX leaders today.

The first sessions explore building trust in the AI era, with discussions on whether AI investments are delivering measurable business outcomes, the changing role of the CX leader, enterprise AI agents, frictionless customer journeys and lessons from CEM Africa Awards-winning teams.

The afternoon broadens the conversation into customer intelligence, Voice of Customer, Agentic AI, digital trust and human reassurance, alongside a dedicated discussion on how African contact centres and BPO operators are positioning themselves to compete globally.

Later sessions place the human experience firmly back at the centre of CX. Leaders will explore employee wellbeing, emotionally intelligent journey design, empathy in an AI-enabled environment, customer-centric culture and how to lead CX teams through continuous change.

The final workshop block tackles the commercial realities of CX, including moving from NPS to P&L, improving checkout conversion, connecting customer, employee and digital experience, driving loyalty through hyper-personalised research and the realities of stepping into senior CX leadership.

Day One closes with Matchmaking and Happy Hour, followed by the CEM Engage Party, creating further opportunities for delegates, speakers, partners and solution providers to continue conversations and build meaningful industry relationships.

Thursday, 20 August – Day Two

Day Two turns the focus towards human impact, business value and the future direction of customer experience in Africa.

The main stage opens with Zahirah Variawa's motivational keynote, “The Moments People Remember: Why the Experiences We Create Matter More Than We Think”, followed by Rashid Toefy on designing better citizen experiences and building trust through public services.

A QuestionPro and Metropolitan fireside chat explores the use of AI within Voice of Customer programmes, while Katie Stabler and Debi Potgieter's “What the Fluff?” challenges the industry to examine whether CX initiatives have genuine substance when put under pressure.

The morning also features the CEM 2026 Advisory Board Panel, bringing together leaders from across Africa to examine the future of CX through the lenses of trust, technology, business value and human connection, before Martin Urrutia, Head of Global Retail Experience at The LEGO Group, takes to the stage for the keynote “Experience Is the Brand.”

The afternoon workshop programme moves from strategy into execution.

Sessions will explore AI-powered WhatsApp journeys, voice AI in the South African market, the point at which brand promises break down, self-improving human and AI service models and how CX leaders can prove ROI in language that resonates in the boardroom.

The final workshop block looks further ahead. Delegates can explore CX designed for measurable ROI, the Future African Customer 2030, organisational trust, scalable experience design, the risks of poor AI, emerging CX research and Human First experience design.

The programme then closes with WiN CX Africa: Women Shaping Excellence in Every Experience, bringing together female leaders to explore how cultures of safety, trust and inclusion shape stronger customer and employee experiences.

Across both days, the programme reflects the central theme of CEM Africa 2026: Trust, Technology and the Human Future of CX in Africa, with a clear emphasis on moving beyond theory towards customer experience strategies that create stronger relationships, better operational outcomes and measurable business value.

More than a conference programme

Alongside the conference and workshops, attendees will have access to the CEM Africa exhibition, Expo Spotlight Stages, technology demonstrations, networking functions and opportunities to engage directly with CX solution providers and peers facing similar transformation challenges.

For senior leaders, the value lies not simply in hearing what is changing, but in comparing approaches with peers, interrogating technology choices, finding practical solutions and building relationships across Africa's customer experience community.

CEM Africa's broader 2026 positioning - “Excellence in Every Experience: Shaping the Future of Customer Engagement Across Africa” - reflects an industry that is increasingly being asked to connect customer experience directly to business growth, loyalty, trust and resilience.

With the event now days away, CEM Africa 2026 offers organisations a timely opportunity to understand where customer experience is heading next — and what leaders need to do now to stay relevant.

CEM Africa 2026 takes place from 18–20 August 2026 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

For the latest programme, speaker line-up and delegate availability, visit https://apo-opa.co/4zgt0bJ.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Additional links:
https://apo-opa.co/4bQHxAO
https://apo-opa.co/4wSEIrk

Media enquiries:
Steven Dennett
Marketing Manager VUKA Group / CEM Africa
Steven.dennett@WeAreVUKA.com
CEMAfricaSummit.com

About CEM Africa:
CEM Africa is Africa's leading customer experience summit and a platform for senior leaders, practitioners, innovators and solution providers shaping the future of customer engagement across the continent.

Created by VUKA Group, CEM Africa brings together practical insight, strategic collaboration, technology, peer learning and meaningful business connections to help organisations build stronger, more relevant and more commercially effective customer experiences.

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (www.AWIEForum.org) has partnered with Nedbank to launch a new programme – Women Enterprise Growth and Export. This new initiative builds on Nedbank and AWIEF's long-term relationship and partnership since 2018, implementing the AWIEF Growth Accelerator and investment readiness programme in South Africa.

The Nedbank – AWIEF Women Enterprise Growth and Export is a 12-month business and enterprise supplier development programme for established South African Exempted Micro Enterprises (EME) or Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE) that are at least 51% owned by black women.

The programme is intended for product-based businesses and is designed to help participants strengthen their operations, improve their finance, market and export readiness, and access larger domestic, regional, African, and international markets.

It forms part of a three-year partnership between Nedbank and AWIEF that will support 75 women-owned SMMEs, with 25 businesses selected for each annual cohort.

The programme targets growth-stage businesses that are already operating, generating revenue, and looking to scale and expand. Participating businesses should have the potential to strengthen their systems, increase production, fulfilment or distribution capacity, supply larger buyers, enter new markets, and progress towards regional or international expansion.

It will support 75 women-owned SMMEs over three years, with 25 businesses selected for each annual cohort.

The official and in-person launch of the programme will take place at the AWIEF2026 Conference and Exhibition on 10 – 11 November 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town.

Call for Applications for 2026 Cohort of 25 Businesses

Applications are invited from qualifying businesses for the 2026 Cohort of 25 participants.

Eligibility & Who Can Apply

To qualify for the Nedbank – AWIEF Women Enterprise Growth and Export Programme, businesses must meet the following requirements:

• Be legally registered and operating in South Africa 
• Be at least 51% owned by black women, as defined under the B-BBEE Act
• Qualify as an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) or Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) under the B-BBEE code applicable to their main business activities
• Be post-revenue, currently trading, and serving paying customers
• Looking to expand their market access nationally, regionally, intra-Africa, and internationally
• Be product-based and produce, manufacture, process, assemble, package, formulate, or distribute physical products
• Operate in one of the priority sectors
• Founder commits to a 12-month programme

Priority Sectors

The programme is open to businesses in the following sectors:

• Agriculture and Agro-processing
• Manufacturing
• Building and Construction
• Green Economy and Renewable Energy
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Cleaning and Hygiene
• Textile, Apparel and Accessories
• Beauty, Wellness, and Personal Care
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Design and Craft
• Circular Economy

Programme Timeline

7 September 2026
Applications Close

September – October 2026
Application screening and selection of 25 participating businesses

10 – 11 November 2026
Official Programme Launch and in-person 2-day bootcamp at AWIEF2026 Conference and Exhibition, CTICC, Cape Town

November 2026 – October 2027
Programme Implementation

Programme Benefits

Selected businesses will receive 12 months of tailored, practical support to strengthen their operations and products, prepare for larger markets and pursue sustainable growth.

• Business growth support
• Individual diagnostic and development plan
• Coaching and technical mentoring
• Product, supplier and retail readiness
• Market access support
• Finance and investment readiness
• Export readiness support
• Regional trade and partnership opportunities – support to explore AfCFTA-related opportunities, including B2B contracts, joint ventures, and co-production arrangements
• Networking and buyer linkages – opportunities to connect with mentors, buyers, institutions, finance providers, and other women entrepreneurs.
• AWIEF2026 Conference participation – free access to the AWIEF2026 Conference in Cape Town, including selected programme-related travel and accommodation support.
• Ongoing progress tracking – regular reviews to monitor implementation, business growth, job creation, market access, and progress against the Individual Development Plan.

Application Submission

Applications are submitted online until 7 September 2026, 11:59 SAST, only through this official link: https://apo-opa.co/4woMRTe

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF).

Enquiries:
​For more information on the programme, please email: info@awieforum.org

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The Department of Local Government, through its Sub-Directorate, Fire and Rescue Services, has officially handed over hazardous materials hazmat firefighting equipment to Overstrand Municipality, strengthening the municipality's capacity to respond to incidents involving dangerous goods.

The equipment, purchased through the Fire Service Capacity Building Grant, represents a provincial investment of R500 000 in emergency response capacity. Overstrand Municipality further contributed R74 286.31, bringing the total expenditure on the equipment to R574 286.31.

The initiative forms part of the Department's efforts to strengthen provincial resilience and ensure that municipal fire and rescue services are adequately prepared to respond to incidents involving hazardous materials. The transportation, storage and processing of dangerous goods can pose significant risks to communities, particularly where specialised chemical, biological and radioactive detection and mitigation capabilities are limited. The executive mayor of Overstrand municipality cllr Archie Klass he said today was not simply about the handing over of equipment. It is about building capacity, strengthening partnerships and ensuring that the Overstrand Municipality is better equipped to protect lives, property and livelihoods when emergencies occur. 

He further said for our firefighters, protective equipment is not a luxury. It is an essential part of ensuring that they can safely enter dangerous environments and carry out their duties effectively. “For our firefighters, protective equipment is not a luxury. It is an essential part of ensuring that they can safely enter dangerous environments and carry out their duties effectively.” Said mayor.

The thermal imaging camera, in particular, will enhance the ability of our teams to identify heat sources and locate persons during fire and rescue operations, especially in conditions where visibility is severely compromised.

The thermal imaging camera, in particular, will enhance the ability of our teams to identify heat sources and locate persons during fire and rescue operations, especially in conditions where visibility is severely compromised.

Dr Moses Khangale of Santam's Western Cape region said during the handover of fire and rescue equipment to the Overstrand Municipality that Santam provides support to 110 municipalities across South Africa, with the Overstrand Municipality being one of them.

He said Santam has a strong footprint in the Western Cape and wants to continue building its strategic partnership with municipalities, particularly because Santam has a large client base in the province.

Dr Khangale emphasised the importance of collaboration, saying that stakeholders should work together rather than against each other. He also urged the municipality to take good care of the equipment, noting that it is expensive and plays an important role in protecting lives and property.

Western Cape  Disaster management deputy director Mr. Etienne du Toit represented the department highlighted the Western Cape Government's continued commitment to strengthening municipal fire and rescue services during the hand over of hazardous materials equipment valued R 500.000 to Overstrand municipality. Mr Du Toit emphasised that an effective fire service rests on four pillars people, equipment, systems and partnership. “The provincial fire safety officer development programme invests approximately R1.2 million annually, equating to almost R 300.000 per student' he said.

He also acknowledges the leadership and continued support of Minister Anton Bredell, who commitment has been instrumental in advancing these programmes and strengthening fire and rescue capacity across the Western cape. He said.

The equipment acquired by Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services includes Class A responder suits in sizes L and M, splash suits in sizes L and M, a thermal imaging camera, 210-litre over-drums, lane demarcation cones and firefighting gloves.

The investment will enhance the ability of firefighters to operate safely and effectively when responding to hazardous materials incidents, while supporting the broader objective of protecting communities, emergency personnel and the environment.

The Department of Local Government remains committed to supporting municipalities in building sustainable and resilient fire and rescue services through targeted capacity-building initiatives, specialised equipment and ongoing preparedness for foreseeable emergencies.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic Of South Africa: Western Cape Provincial Government.

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The nominees for the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 recognize the companies, projects and individuals driving innovation, investment and growth across Africa's energy sector. Featuring 12 categories spanning the full energy value chain, the awards celebrate the achievements shaping the continent's energy future.

Winners will be announced during the AEW 2026 Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, taking place on Tuesday, October 13, in Cape Town. The ceremony will bring together ministers, industry leaders, investors and technology providers to recognize excellence in upstream, downstream, gas, power, local content, technology and corporate leadership.

African Service Provider of the Year

• GeoEnergy Group – for advancing digital transformation through the Egypt Upstream Gateway while strengthening local technical expertise across Africa.
• One Titanium – for delivering specialized services supporting Africa's energy industry.
• KAESO – for expanding indigenous engineering and technical services across African markets.
• SONILS – for strengthening logistics and supply chain services for integrated energy projects.
• NIPEX – for enhancing procurement and local supplier participation in Nigeria's oil and gas sector.

International Service Provider of the Year

• NOV – for supporting major energy developments with advanced engineering and equipment solutions.
• Geoex MCG – for nearly two decades of supporting Equatorial Guinea's offshore exploration through seismic data acquisition and licensing support.
• Africa Global Logistics – for expanding integrated logistics solutions supporting energy projects across Africa.
• Technip Energies – for delivering engineering expertise across major African energy developments.
• SBM Offshore – for advancing offshore production through industry-leading FPSO solutions.
• SLB – for deploying advanced technologies and technical services across Africa's upstream sector.

Local Content Champion (African Companies)

• Seplat Energy – for maintaining a 98% Nigerian workforce while investing in local talent development and procurement.
• Copia Group of Companies – for strengthening indigenous participation across Angola's energy value chain.
• Renaissance Africa Energy – for expanding Nigerian ownership and local participation in upstream operations.
• Cabship – for growing Angolan maritime and offshore services through locally driven operations.

Local Content Champion (International Companies)

• TotalEnergies Uganda – for developing the Tilenga Academy to train Uganda's future oil and gas workforce.
• NOV – for supporting local skills development and supplier participation across African markets.
• Woodside Energy – for advancing local workforce development through its African operations.
• Africa Global Logistics – for building African logistics capacity through local employment, training and supplier development.

E&P Leader of the Year

• Shell – for the Merlin-1X discovery in Namibia and the Velox-1X discovery offshore Egypt, reinforcing its exploration leadership.
• Renaissance Africa Energy & NNPCL – for the JK-004 discovery in Nigeria's OML 74, confirming multiple hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs.
• Murphy Oil – for the Bubale-1X light oil discovery offshore Côte d'Ivoire in Block CI-709.
• Eni – for major discoveries in Côte d'Ivoire and Angola that expanded Africa's offshore resource base.
• OMV & Libya's National Oil Corporation – for the Eassar commercial oil discovery in Libya's Sirte Basin.

Downstream & Infrastructure Leader of the Year

• Dangote Refinery – for transforming Nigeria's refining capacity and reducing dependence on imported fuels.
• Cabinda Oil Refinery – for expanding Angola's domestic refining capacity as part of its downstream growth strategy.
• East African Crude Oil Pipeline – for advancing one of Africa's largest cross-border energy infrastructure projects.
• African Atlantic Gas Pipeline – for progressing a strategic regional gas corridor linking West Africa with Morocco and Europe.

Deal of the Year

• Trafigura – for its $1 billion oil prepayment agreement with the Republic of Gabon.
• Levene Energies – for acquiring a 30% stake in Axxela through the Bluecore consortium, strengthening indigenous ownership.
• Heirs Energies – for acquiring a 20.07% stake in Seplat Energy in a landmark African-led transaction.
• UTM FLNG – for advancing Nigeria's first floating LNG project through a major multi-party development agreement.

CSR Project of the Year

• Mozambique LNG – for supporting flood recovery efforts benefiting approximately 190,000 people in southern Mozambique.
• South African National Petroleum Company – for expanding STEM education through its Axium STEMI initiative in the Eastern Cape.
• Kosmos Energy Ghana – for empowering entrepreneurs through the Kosmos Innovation Center.
• Sonangol – for supporting youth entrepreneurship through its SonaJovem program.
• Eni – for expanding clean cooking initiatives across Africa.
• Oando Foundation – for improving education through its Adopt-A-School Initiative in Nigeria.

Gas Monetization Award

• Levene Energies – for advancing gas commercialization and infrastructure-led industrial development.
• NOV APL Norway – for supporting the Nguya FLNG project and expanding offshore LNG production in Congo.
• Congo LNG – for advancing the Tango and Nguya FLNG projects to strengthen the Republic of Congo's LNG industry.
• Amufert – for developing Angola's flagship ammonia and urea project utilizing domestic natural gas.

Technology Innovator

• TotalEnergies – for developing the SUBLIIM digital platform to optimize subsea field layouts.
• SOLA Group – for reaching financial close on South Africa's largest private hybrid solar and battery storage project.
• Shearwater – for deploying its Pearl ocean-bottom node technology during its first commercial survey in Angola.
• TGS & Starlink – for redefining seismic data transfer through satellite-enabled connectivity.

Power Africa Developer

• TotalEnergies – for inaugurating Africa's largest hybrid renewable energy project.
• Siemens Energy – for expanding gas turbine and grid infrastructure supporting Africa's growing power demand.
• Globeleq – for growing its renewable energy portfolio across wind, solar, geothermal and battery storage.
• Infinity Power – for expanding one of Africa's largest renewable energy development portfolios.E

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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The Zayed Sustainability Prize will host a flagship session at the Future Economies Forum during African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town. The "From Power to Position: Energy, Industry and Sovereignty in Africa's Next Economy" discussion will examine how Africa converts proven innovation into bankable industrial investment.

For more than 20 years, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has funded technologies and supported innovators operating in some of the world's most resource-constrained environments. The model is simple: demonstrate measurable impact first, reduce investment risk second and unlock larger pools of private and public capital thereafter.

That approach directly addresses one of Africa's biggest investment challenges. The continent holds an estimated 850 TW of theoretical wind and solar potential, enough to reshape global energy markets. Yet only a fraction of that resource has attracted commercial financing, despite competitive renewable economics and abundant natural resources.

Investment momentum is building. Masdar and Africa50 are advancing a $10 billion initiative targeting 10 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, while projects including Egypt's 10 GW wind development and Morocco's planned $27.2 billion, 6 GW green hydrogen complex demonstrate growing industrial ambition.

The session will also examine the capital flowing into Africa's digital infrastructure. The continent currently represents only 0.6%–1% of global data center capacity, yet more than 500 MW is operational and another 890 MW is under development. South Africa's AI data centre market alone is projected to expand from $99.37 million in 2026 to $572.63 million by 2031, reflecting a 41.95% CAGR.

These investments illustrate a broader lesson. AI infrastructure has attracted substantial capital because demand is clear, projects are commercially validated and revenue models are understood. Africa's clean energy opportunity requires the same progression – from proven innovation to investor confidence – before financing can scale.

“This session gets to the heart of Africa's investment challenge. The Zayed Sustainability Prize has spent more than two decades proving that innovation must earn confidence before it attracts capital, and that's the mindset Africa needs to transform its immense clean energy potential into industrial growth, energy sovereignty and globally competitive economies,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

The session reinforces AEW 2026's broader focus on turning Africa's energy resources into long-term economic value. Rather than asking whether capital exists, the discussion is set to examine how proven innovation, effective policy and strategic partnerships can ensure it flows into projects that advance the continent's industrial ambitions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Africa is entering a new phase of digital investment. Significant capital is flowing into AI infrastructure, cloud platforms, subsea cables, fibre networks and data centres across the continent, governments are shaping AI policy, and enterprises are moving from strategy to implementation. Africa Tech Festival (www.AfricaTechFestival.com), the continent's longest running and most influential technology event, is where these conversations come together. Today, the event unveiled an expanded speaker line-up for its 29th edition, bringing together the leaders shaping Africa's digital future and the decisions driving investment across the continent.

Hon. Solly Malatsi, South Africa's Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies, whose department is a strategic partner of the event, will offer insight into building an inclusive, globally competitive digital economy. Global technology companies are represented by Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Africa, at Google, who will speak to the scale of investment flowing into the continent's cloud and AI infrastructure; Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa Lead at OpenAI, focusing on AI adoption and readiness across African markets; and Robert Koen, Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, at Amazon.

They are joined by leaders from Africa's telecommunications sector, including Enzo Scarcella, Chief Consumer Officer at MTN Group; Norbert Prihoda, Chief Executive Officer of Tunisie Telecom; and Daddy Yogo Ngbabendo, Group Vice President, Solutions & Architecture at Airtel Africa.

Also joining the programme are Marcel Louw, Managing Director, Africa, at Digital Realty, bringing a data centre perspective, alongside enterprise leaders Thato Sopeng, Vice President, Information Technology, at Sasol, and Linda Oniwe, Senior Vice President, TMT, Corporate and Investment Banking, at Standard Bank Group.

This speaker line-up reflects the biggest areas of investment and change happening across Africa today: connectivity, data infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, startups and enterprise transformation, and the breadth of sectors, regions and perspectives shaping this year's programme.

David Monaghan, Vice President of Africa Tech Festival, said: "What stands out this year is the pace of collaboration across industries. Investment is flowing, partnerships are forming, and the leaders joining us in Cape Town are turning conversation into action on some of Africa's biggest digital challenges. That's the role Africa Tech Festival plays: bringing people together to get things done."

Many more senior leaders will be announced in the coming months, including ministers, enterprise CIOs, telecom operators, investors and global technology companies.

Africa Tech Festival 2026 marks the event's 29th edition, returning to the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 16 to 19 November, with content and expo sessions running from 17 to 19 November.

Registration for Africa Tech Festival 2026 is now open and can be completed through the official portal (https://apo-opa.co/4pTVq6T).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.

About Africa Tech Festival:
Africa Tech Festival is the continent's leading platform for shaping the future of the digital economy. Taking place annually in Cape Town, the festival brings together the full technology ecosystem, from telecoms and infrastructure providers to enterprise leaders, startups, investors and policymakers.

Through six core pillars spanning connectivity, AI, cybersecurity, data centres, digital transformation and the startup ecosystem, Africa Tech Festival delivers a comprehensive view of the trends, challenges and opportunities defining Africa's digital landscape.

The festival combines high level content with large scale exhibition and networking, creating a space where strategy meets execution. Across three days, it convenes global technology leaders, decision makers and innovators to share insight, build partnerships and drive real business outcomes.

Africa Tech Festival is part of Informa Festivals, a division of Informa.

As African governments and mining companies accelerate efforts to expand gold production and capitalize on strong global demand, African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, taking place October 14–16 in Cape Town, will spotlight the policies, partnerships and investments driving the continent's next phase of growth in the gold sector.

The event will feature a dedicated panel, Expanding Africa's Gold Output, exploring strategies to increase gold production, formalize artisanal and small-scale mining and strengthen investment across the value chain.

The session will be moderated by Matt Banton, Head of Mining at Moore Global, and feature Fousseni Togola, President of the Mali Chamber of Mines, and Benford Mokoatle, Executive Vice President: South Africa at Gold Fields.

The discussion comes as the global gold market continues to strengthen. Gold prices have remained above $4,000 per ounce throughout 2026, supported by sustained central bank demand as countries increase gold reserves to diversify foreign exchange holdings and strengthen financial resilience. Across Africa, central banks in Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Egypt and Namibia have expanded gold purchase programs, reinforcing demand while creating new opportunities for domestic producers.

African gold-producing nations are responding by introducing reforms aimed at increasing production and improving sector governance. In Mali, the government is strengthening the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector as part of its strategy to maintain annual gold production above 60 metric tons. In July 2026, the country established the Malian Office of Precious Substances, a new state institution responsible for regulating and formalizing artisanal gold production across approximately 400 mining sites employing nearly two million people. At the same time, Mali continues to strengthen partnerships with major mining companies, including Barrick, B2Gold, Toubani Resources and Cora Gold, to sustain long-term production growth and attract additional investment.

At AMW 2026, Togola is expected to discuss how the Mali Chamber of Mines is supporting these reforms while highlighting the investment opportunities emerging across the country's gold sector. His participation will explore the role of chamber members in expanding production, strengthening local participation and positioning Mali among Africa's leading gold producers.

South Africa is also advancing initiatives to revitalize its gold industry through increased exploration and long-term mine investment. Earlier this year, the government expanded the Junior Mining Exploration Fund to R600 million, improving access to exploration capital for emerging mining companies and supporting efforts to unlock new gold discoveries.

Complementing these national initiatives, Gold Fields is investing R1.714 billion through 2027 to deepen its flagship South Deep Mine, positioning the operation as a long-life production hub well beyond 2030. Gold Fields' Mokoatle is expected to provide an update on the company's long-term investment strategy, highlighting how innovation and sustained capital investment are supporting South Africa's efforts to strengthen gold production.

As investment accelerates across Africa's gold sector, AMW 2026 provides a premier platform to connect governments, producers, investors and service providers, advancing the partnerships and capital needed to unlock the continent's next phase of gold production growth.

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

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Africa's clean energy debate has reached a turning point. The technologies needed to generate low-cost renewable power are now proven and widely deployed, yet more than 600 million people across sub-Saharan Africa remain without reliable electricity. The continent added a record 11.3 GW of renewable capacity in 2025 – led by Ethiopia, South Africa and Egypt – and the pressing question is no longer how to produce clean power but how to deliver it at the scale and dependability industry requires.

These questions sit at the heart of African Energy Week's Power Africa Today conference, taking place during in Cape Town from October 12-16. The Capturing Africa's Clean Energy Opportunity to Close the Power Generation Gap session will  move past broad ambition toward the design trade-offs, system integration challenges and emerging technical solutions that decide whether new capacity becomes dependable supply.

A defining theme will be the shift from generation to integration. As the cost of solar and storage has fallen, the binding constraint has moved onto the grid. The Africa Clean Energy Corridor captures the imbalance, calling for up to $25 billion a year in generation investment through 2030 alongside a further $15 billion a year for the transmission infrastructure needed to carry that power to the point of consumption.

Energy storage is central to that effort. Across the continent, weak networks and unstable grids have reclassified battery systems as core national infrastructure. The technology is increasingly deployed to steady frequency, reduce curtailment and displace inefficient diesel generation. Harsh operating conditions, from high temperatures to remote geography, are pushing developers toward fully engineered systems with automated maintenance rather than standalone hardware.

Decentralized supply is supported by both governments and private industry, but it raises its own cost and design questions. Mini-grid capital costs in sub-Saharan Africa fell by around 20% between 2020 and 2024, to a four-year average of $6,824 per kWp, yet that figure still runs more than double the global benchmark of roughly $3,000 per kWp. With most of the region's estimated 3,000 mini-grids still reliant on grants and concessional finance, the session will weigh how commercial models can carry deployment to industrial scale.

"Reliable power touches every part of the value chain. It's what turns a mining license into a smelter and a connection into a job,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Getting the grids and the financing right is how we get there.”

The discussion arrives amid accelerating progress. Mission 300, the World Bank and African Development Bank electrification drive, has now connected more than 50 million people across 40 countries, with roughly half of the connections still to come expected from off-grid solutions. By convening policymakers, utilities, investors and developers around the practical levers of delivery, from competitive procurement to cross-border transmission and storage suited to local conditions, Power Africa Today aims to turn that momentum into firm, affordable power capable of anchoring Africa's industrial growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.