Rwanda to Host Inaugural Africa Energy Expo and Leadership Summit in November 2024

The Africa Energy Expo and Leadership Summit Organizing Team held a press conference on August 7, 2024, in Kigali to announce the upcoming Africa Energy Expo and Africa Energy Leadership Summit scheduled to take place from November 4-6, 2024 in Kigali.

During the press conference, Jean Bosco MUGIRANEZA, Director General in charge of Energy Directorate at the Rwandan Ministry of Infrastructure,  highlighted Rwanda’s achievements in the energy sector, including an access rate of 80.1%, with 57% on the grid and 23.1% off the grid.

He also mentioned successful interconnection lines with neighboring countries and a stable reserve margin for generation capacity over the past seven years.

However, challenges still exist, such as the high cost of generation affecting end-user tariffs, the need for a power market within the power poles, achieving universal access, and developing new renewable energy technologies for sustainable solutions.

Jean Bosco MUGIRANEZA, Director General in charge of Energy Directorate at the Rwandan Ministry of Infrastructure,

 Mugiraneza emphasized that while Rwanda is making progress, the broader picture shows that the electricity access rate in sub-Saharan Africa averages between 50-55% according to World Bank data.

In response to these challenges, the Government of Rwanda, the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Rwanda Convention Bureau have partnered with Informa Markets to host the inaugural Africa Energy Expo and Leadership Summit in November 2024.

The event will feature a ministerial roundtable with African energy ministers, discussions with African utility heads and regulatory bodies, an entrepreneurship forum, a youth boot camp, and an exhibition.

 Financial institutions will also be present to provide support for energy projects.

Under the theme “Transforming the African Power Sector for a Sustainable Tomorrow,” the Africa Energy Expo and Leadership Summit aims to address key challenges and explore innovative solutions for the future of energy in Africa.

Mugiraneza expressed gratitude for Informa Markets choosing Rwanda as the venue for this important event.

Expert opinions on energy in Africa are optimistic about the potential impact of the Africa Energy Expo and Leadership Summit.

According to Ade Yesufu, Exhibition Director – Energy at Informa Markets, the world’s leading market-making company, the forum will provide participants with essential business skills, valuable knowledge, and a network within the utility sector.

He also reveled that It will also provide an opportunity for project owners and stakeholders to network and mobilize resources for proposed and ongoing projects in the power sector.

“In addition to the entrepreneurial forum, the Africa Energy Expo will also host a leadership summit, bringing together C-level executives from various parts of the power value chain, including ministries, utilities, investors, stakeholders, EPC companies, and consultants. The summit aims to accelerate Africa’s energy transition by fostering partnerships and facilitating targeted interventions.” Ade explains.

Among the planned activities, the summit will feature three roundtables focused on ministerial, regulator, and utility discussions. The goal of these roundtables is to bring African leaders together to pave the way for energy access and supply while shaping the narrative for the African energy landscape.

Members of the Press had the opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming event

Also the program for the summit will focus on topics such as universal electrification, resilient policy frameworks, innovation in rural electrification, and the African single electricity market.

Mr. Ade Yesufu said that the expected outcomes of the event include job creation, capacity building, poverty reduction, improved quality of life, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable development in Africa.

The Africa Energy Expo aims to attract investors and financers such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, United Bank for Africa, National Pension Scheme Authority from Zambia, Fund for Export Development in Africa Fair, and Bank of Kigali among others.

The organizers of this event emphasize that it is essential for African problems to be addressed in Africa by Africans and for Africa.

They believe that by coming together and supporting each other, they can make a significant impact on the African energy sector.

Participants can register for the forum and summit via the Africa Energy Expo website at www.africa-energyexpo.com.