Category: MIL-OSI

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Utilities urged to close the performance gap in smart meter programmes

Source: APO

Smart meters have already been deployed across many utilities and municipalities, yet the expected returns are still not being fully realised.

Improved revenue collection, accurate billing and clearer visibility of consumption remain persistent challenges for organisations that have invested in smart metering infrastructure.

To address this gap, ESI Africa, part of VUKA Group, and GridLens Energy will host a live webinar titled “Maximising smart meter returns” on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 from 14:00 to 15:00 SAST.

The webinar will take a practical look at where smart metering programmes underperform after deployment and what utilities, municipalities and energy users can do to improve outcomes from systems already in place.

Across the sector, common challenges include underutilised data, poor system integration, revenue leakage, billing inaccuracies and limited operational visibility. For many organisations, the issue is not whether to invest in smart metering, but how to extract measurable performance from the investment already made.

The session will bring together experts from GridLens Energy, Drakenstein Municipality and eThekwini Municipality to unpack the technical, financial and operational barriers that prevent smart metering programmes from delivering their full value.

Webinar details

Title: Maximising smart meter returns
Date: Tuesday, 2 June 2026
Time: 14:00 to 15:00 SAST
Registration: https://apo-opa.co/4dCRUcD

Expert speakers

  • Carson Dean, Founder, GridLens Energy
  • Hilton Smith, Chief Accountant: Water and Electricity Billing, Drakenstein Municipality, South Africa
  • Sindisiwe Shozi, Chief Engineer, eThekwini Municipality, South Africa

Key discussion points will include:

  • Why smart meter programmes often fail to deliver expected returns
  • Where value is lost across data, systems and operations
  • How to improve billing accuracy and reduce revenue leakage
  • The role of integration and interoperability in improving performance
  • Practical approaches to extracting more value from existing deployments

The webinar is designed for utilities, municipalities, metering teams, billing departments, revenue managers, infrastructure decision-makers, large commercial and industrial energy users, technology providers and system integrators.

Smart metering investment has already been made. The priority now is performance.

Register for the webinar here:
https://apo-opa.co/4dCRUcD

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

About ESI Africa:
ESI Africa is Africa’s trusted power, energy, water and utility multimedia platform. Positioned as an impartial industry mouthpiece, ESI Africa has delivered technical developments and analysis in print and digital formats since 1996.

Through its print, digital and webinar platforms, ESI Africa connects readers with solution providers and delivers insight into Africa’s energy, power, utility and water transformation.

Website: www.ESI-Africa.com

About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations across Africa’s energy, mining, mobility, green economy and retail sectors through events, content and strategic networking. VUKA Group is a venture partner to The Global Trust Project and a leader of NPO Go Green Africa.

Website: www.WeAreVUKA.com

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DFFE pilots tree-planting initiative to curb wastewater plant odours

Source: Government of South Africa

DFFE pilots tree-planting initiative to curb wastewater plant odours

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is piloting an initiative to plant trees around wastewater treatment plants across the country to help mitigate odours generated by treatment processes and protect surrounding communities and the environment.

“The Wastewater treatment plants are essential for protecting public health and water resources;  however, they are often associated with persistent odour emissions that negatively affect surrounding communities,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said on Monday in Pretoria.

The initiative will begin at the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT), which operates 19 wastewater treatment works. 

According to Swarts, odours generated from processes such as sludge handling, anaerobic decomposition and chemical reactions continue to present environmental and social challenges for nearby communities.

“These odours can lead to neighbouring community discomfort, complaints, and reputational risks, particularly in densely populated areas within the City of Ekurhuleni. 

“Inadequate odour mitigation measures may also weaken public trust and reduce the perceived acceptability of wastewater infrastructure, despite its critical role in service delivery.

“It is therefore important to develop green spaces through tree planting in and around the wastewater treatment plant, which offer buffers between the communities and add to the general wellness of the environment,” Swarts said.

The Deputy Minister was addressing the launch of the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme, which seeks to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life – including government, the private sector, business, interfaith formations, diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), youth formations and communities – to plant trees as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The launch follows the success of the 2025 One Million Trees Campaign, during which more than 1.3 million trees were planted across the country on Heritage Day in September 2025. 

The planting of trees in residential settlements, recreational facilities, parks and open spaces has been identified as a critical environmental management intervention to address the effects of climate change. 

The Deputy Minister underscored that greening is not only an environmental responsibility but also a social and economic necessity.

“As a country, we continue to confront the growing challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and food insecurity. These challenges affect us all, but they weigh most heavily on the poor and vulnerable people,” Swarts said.

She added that biodiversity loss also disproportionately affects the country’s poorest people, particularly in rural areas, who depend directly on natural ecosystems for food, water, medicine, and livelihoods. 

“As ecosystems degrade, these communities face reduced food security, decreased income, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change, exacerbating inequality,” the Deputy Minister said.

She announced that the government plans to plant 10 million trees across the country on Heritage Day this year, working together with all South Africans.

“These trees will be planted across the country in our safe spaces such as schools, community parks, health facilities and in our residential spaces. It is therefore the President’s call that all South Africans participate in this programme by planting trees on Heritage Day,” she said.

The Deputy Minister called on all South Africans, including all spheres of government, organised business, organised labour, civil society and all citizens, to participate in the campaign to plant Ten Million Trees on Heritage Day in September 2026 as part of the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme.

She noted that properties that have been greened using trees and other plants have realised increased property values.

“This, in turn, ensures that Municipalities can collect more rates, thereby enabling increased service delivery in that particular local authority,” she said.

The Deputy Minister explained that the participation of municipalities will improve planning at the municipal level, enabling the identification of projects that can contribute to mitigating climate change, such as repurposing dumping sites into safe and peaceful parks.

“Trees also frequently bear the burden of pollution and industrial waste, especially in densely populated areas and industrialised zones with high levels of air pollution.

“Greening is thus inseparable from the pursuit of spatial justice in the context of a South Africa where the under-development of lower-income communities is the product of historical processes rooted in segregation

“Let us once again come together in the spirit of shared responsibility and common purpose. Let us plant not only trees, but the seeds of hope, dignity and lasting change in every community across our nation,” Swarts said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

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Western Cape schools closed today amid severe weather conditions

Source: Government of South Africa

Western Cape schools closed today amid severe weather conditions

The Western Cape Education Department says that all schools in the province will be closed on Tuesday due to severe weather conditions affecting parts of the province.

The decision was taken following consultations between the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), with authorities citing learner and teacher safety as the primary concern.

The closure applies to all public ordinary and special schools across the province.

“In the interests of learner and teacher safety, and after extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), a decision has been taken to close all schools in the Western Cape on Tuesday, 12 May 2026,” the Western Cape Education Department said in a statement on Monday.

According to the department, Disaster Management and SAWS recommended the closures based on updated weather projections and current conditions.

“Our default position is always to keep schools open and only close schools in exceptional circumstances, but we are mindful of the severity of the warnings in place,” the department said.

Authorities said the situation will continue to be monitored to allow schools to reopen as soon as conditions improve.

“We will continuously monitor and evaluate the situation to ensure that schools can reopen as soon as possible, which is currently expected to be on Wednesday, 13 May 2026,” the department said. 

As of 13:30 on Monday, a total of 227 schools had applied for closure, in addition to schools already listed for closure in the Cape Winelands and Eden and Central Karoo districts.

The department also confirmed that a number of schools have suffered storm-related damage, which is currently being assessed.

Officials, school principals, teachers and parents were thanked for their cooperation in implementing the school closures.

The department also expressed appreciation to first responders, emergency services and disaster management officials assisting schools during the severe weather conditions. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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NSFAS releases private accommodation payments

Source: Government of South Africa

NSFAS releases private accommodation payments

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed that payments for private student accommodation at universities were released on Thursday, 7 May 2026.

In a statement issued on Monday, NSFAS said accommodation providers banking with First National Bank (FNB) receive funds immediately upon release, while those using other banks may experience minor delays due to standard interbank processing timelines.

The scheme noted that, in the current quarter alone, it has made three major disbursements to accommodation providers, amounting to over R1.1 billion and benefiting over 100 000 students nationwide.

“To date, 95% of accommodation providers listed on our solution partner portals have had their banking details successfully verified and are now included in direct payments for 2026. For the remaining providers, we are conducting one-on-one engagements to ensure full integration into the direct payment system,” NSFAS said.

NSFAS added that it will issue a monthly disbursement schedule to all accredited accommodation providers. It urged providers to confirm students’ funding status and ensure valid, signed lease agreements are in place, as these remain prerequisites for payment.

The scheme also explained that it is legally mandated to manage accommodation payment functions internally from the start of 2026. This transition has helped resolve several critical issues, including delays in institutional confirmation of students, which affected payment cycles; incorrect classification of some students as transport allowance recipients; and uncertainties regarding accommodation accreditation.

NSFAS acknowledged ongoing operational pressures faced by accommodation providers, including rising utility costs and municipal service challenges.

The scheme reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with sector associations and solution partners to address outstanding issues, including finalising 2026 rental rates, and implementing a more predictable and transparent payment system.

“NSFAS remains committed to the prompt, case-by-case resolution of all payment challenges. We encourage accommodation providers experiencing difficulties to contact us directly for assistance,” the scheme said.

NSFAS further expressed appreciation to accommodation providers for their ongoing partnership and assured all stakeholders of its focus on long-term stability, effective administration, and the wellbeing of NSFAS funded students. – SAnews.gov.za

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Minister of State for International Cooperation Meets Ukrainian Foreign Minister

Source: Government of Qatar

Brussels| May 12, 2026

HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met on Tuesday with HE Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha in Brussels.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral cooperation and ways to enhance and develop it, as well as Qatar’s latest efforts in reuniting Ukrainian children with their families, as part of its ongoing mediation efforts aimed at reuniting families separated by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

HE Ukrainian Foreign Minister also expressed his country’s gratitude for Qatar’s continued reunification efforts, commending Qatar’s diplomatic endeavors aimed at promoting international peace and security.

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Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Stadium of Life Opens in Maseru

Source: APO

Today marks the official opening of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) (https://FSC.org) Stadium of Life, Africa’s first stadium constructed with sustainably sourced timber. The structure, which sets a new standard for responsible construction practices in Africa, was independently certified by DNV Business Assurance against Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) requirements under project certification (DNV-PRO-002776).

The FSC Stadium of Life is the latest development at the Kick4Life Centre, a hub of social and economic development in the heart of Maseru, Lesotho’s capital city. The centre was first opened in 2011 as part of FIFA’s legacy for the 2010 FIFA Men’s World Cup in South Africa, with this initial support from world football’s governing body resulting in one of the world’s leading examples of a major tournament legacy achieving sustainable social impact.

Today’s event brings together stakeholders from Lesotho and internationally, to learn about the unique approach to sustainable design and construction that was used for the FSC Stadium of Life, as well as learning how the facility supports the wider work of Kick4Life FC, as a charity, social enterprise and football club dedicated to social change.

Gerard Busse, FSC’s Africa and Middle East Regional Market Development Manager, says: “Project certification verifies that the forest materials come from responsibly managed forests, ensuring the promotion of environmental stewardship and community development”.

Peter Alele, FSC’s Africa Regional Director adds: “The project highlights the continent’s potential to set global benchmarks in sustainable forestry, while demonstrating how responsible forest management can support wider social and economic development”.

Greg Markwell, Sales Manager for DNV Business Assurance Africa, says: “We’re proud to have supported the FSC Stadium of Life through our independent certification, helping to give confidence that the timber used is responsibly sourced and traceable. This was a passion project for me personally and the vision reflects DNV’s purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, and shows how sustainability and ingenuity can be embedded into landmark developments that deliver real community value – today and for generations to come”.

The design and construction process was led by Rise International through its ‘in loco’ design and build training programme, which supports the development of young professionals in the construction industry.

Pedro Clarke, the project’s lead architect at Rise International, says: “As the construction sector seeks materials with a lower carbon footprint, eyes are turning towards forest products”.

The stadium features 8,584 treated Eucalyptus poles, minimising concrete use and highlighting the potential of sustainable building materials. The poles were sourced from MTO Forestry’s FSC-certified plantations in Mpumalanga, South Africa, and by using FSC-certified timber, the project directly supports responsible forestry practices.

Daniela Gusman, Founder of Rise International, adds: “The Stadium of Life exemplifies a paradigm shift in sports infrastructure, combining sustainability, social impact, and cultural representation”.

The inclusion of a unique ‘Biodiversity Stand’ dedicated to showcasing diverse flora from across Lesotho’s ten districts further highlights the important relationship between sport and nature, and will be used for community education about the importance of promoting biodiversity.  A small outdoor amphitheatre – the Theatre of Life – has also been integrated, providing a stunning space for a wide range of educational sessions and cultural performances, and the opportunity to watch football through the lens of nature.

Steve Fleming MBE, Co-founder of K4L, says: “With the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup starting next month, we are proud to continue building on the legacy of Africa’s first tournament 16 years ago. Since the initial investment of a centre through FIFA’s ’20 Centres for 2010’ initiative, we have added a number of award-winning hospitality social enterprises, including No.7 Restaurant and Hokahanya Hotel & Conference Centre, which generate income to sustain our sports-based community programmes, as well as providing training and employment opportunities for young people”.

Fleming continues: “Combined with our health education, gender empowerment and life-skills development programmes, this pioneering approach to organisational sustainability and livelihoods saw us recognised with the 2025 Laureus Sport for Good Award, and the FSC Stadium of Life is the latest development which continues to push new boundaries in Sport for Good and the sports industry as a whole”.

Motlatsi Nkhahle, Kick4Life’s Country Director, adds: “The new facility will extend the impact of Kick4Life’s existing centre, serving as a home ground for our football teams, including our women’s team who became national champions of Lesotho in 2025, qualifying for the CAF Women’s Champions League. Through the Kick4Life Academy, the facility will also be used to prepare more young people – on and off the field – for genuinely life-changing student-athlete scholarships at international universities”. 

The launch event will also provide an opportunity for guests to observe a Sport for Good exhibition on Kick4Life’s 5-a-side pitch, with new artificial turf donated by SIS Pitches. There will also be an introduction to the centre’s latest social enterprise – Bophelo Gymnasium & Health Club, led by two young women who have been trained as gym and fitness instructors. Constructed using four repurposed shipping containers, the gym was developed as a part of SESLA (Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa) and the Sustained Insight and Impact Initiative, backed by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

Nkhahle concludes: “The FSC Stadium of Life is more than just a place to watch football; it is a destination that combines sport, nature, art, culture and social impact. It is an inspirational place where you can become part of a special community dedicated to building a brighter future for the children and young people of Lesotho”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Forest Stewardship Council.

About Kick4Life FC:
Kick4Life FC is a multi-award-winning charity, social enterprise and football club based in Lesotho in Southern Africa. Their mission is to transform the lives of children and young people in Lesotho through the power of sport, with a range of interventions focused on health, education, gender, employability and nature. Through Kick4Life Assist, they also support organisations globally in developing and implementing Sport for Good programmes and social enterprises. Kick4Life’s work was recognised with the Laureus Sport for Good Award 2025.

About Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®):
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) is a non-profit organization that provides a proven responsible forest management solution. Currently, over 170 million hectares of forests worldwide are certified according to FSC standards. It is widely regarded as the most rigorous forest certification system among NGOs, consumers, and businesses alike to tackle today’s deforestation, climate, and biodiversity challenges. The FSC forest management standard is based on ten core principles designed to address a broad range of environmental, social and economic factors. FSC’s “check tree” label is found on millions of forest-based products and verifies that they are responsibly sourced, from forest to consumer. https://FSC.org.

About Rise International:
Rise International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to partnering with rural African communities to create sustainable opportunities in education, architecture, and economic empowerment, with a special focus on women and children. Their innovative social enterprise model combines humanitarian mission with sustainable business practices, creating self-funding initiatives that generate both social impact and economic value within the communities they serve.

About DNV Business Assurance:
DNV Business Assurance is a leading global provider of accredited management system certification, supply chain assurance, and training services. Operating in over 100 countries, it helps companies across diverse sectors manage risk, improve performance, and ensure compliance, having issued over 70,000 certificates for safety, quality, and environmental standards.

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Qatar Participates in High-Level Meeting of Int. Coalition for Return of Ukrainian Children

Source: Government of Qatar

Brussels| May 11, 2026

The State of Qatar participated in the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, held in Brussels on Monday.

HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad represented the State of Qatar at the meeting.

In her speech during the event, Her Excellency said that today’s meeting reflects collective responsibility to protect civilians affected by conflict, especially children, whose safety, dignity, and future must remain at the core of all international efforts.

In response to the conflict’s humanitarian dimensions and following the State of Qatar’s high-level discussions with both Ukraine and the Russian Federation during 2023, Qatar undertook humanitarian mediation efforts aimed at facilitating the return of Ukrainian children separated from their families, Her Excellency pointed out.

At the request of the Ukrainian side, Qatar carried out a number of humanitarian missions and hosted consultations with both parties in pursuit of this humanitarian objective, she said.

Qatari mediation efforts succeeded in reuniting 87 Ukrainian children with their families, through more than fourteen humanitarian operations conducted in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross, HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation noted.

Her Excellency affirmed that these efforts stemmed from a humanitarian approach that places children’s safety, dignity, and care as the highest priority, in line with international humanitarian principles. 

The State of Qatar hosted a number of Ukrainian families who were reunited in Doha, via dedicated recovery and rehabilitation programs aimed at supporting their physical and psychological well-being, she pointed out.

In addition to its mediation efforts, Qatar has maintained sustainable humanitarian support for the Ukrainian people, as HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani gave directives in 2023 to allocate USD 100 million to support humanitarian response efforts in Ukraine, Her Excellency highlighted, adding that Qatar also contributed to the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative with USD 20 million, in support of international efforts to strengthen global food security.

HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation further said that the State of Qatar supported educational initiatives and child protection projects, including providing university scholarships to Ukrainian students, in addition to a USD 3.5 million initiative to establish and equip shelters in schools and kindergartens, benefiting thousands of children.
In cooperation with the Olena Zelenska Foundation, Qatar supported efforts to rehabilitate and rebuild vital healthcare facilities in Ukraine, including specialized medical facilities dedicated to child care, she also noted.

Her Excellency stressed that protecting children in armed conflicts must remain a shared international priority that transcends political considerations and geopolitical divisions. 

HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation delivered two practical messages to participants: the first being that mediation alone without sustained practical follow-up is not enough, noting that the State of Qatar is ready to share its experience in reuniting children with their families, numbering 115 children, with any country seeking to achieve the same outcome. 

As for her second practical message, it was that every child still separated from their family is waiting for help, adding that time is not on those children’s side, as words alone cannot restore a stolen childhood.
She added that behind every number mentioned today – 87, 28, 115 – is a child asking themselves every night about the moment they will feel safe again.

Although certainty cannot be promised, yet doing everything possible to help them is, Her Excellency said. 
She concluded by reaffirming the State of Qatar’s commitment to continuing its steadfast approach based on diplomacy and mediation to achieve international peace and security, offering its expertise, networks of relations, and belief in genuine humanitarian action. 

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President assures nation that communities can depend on weather disaster relief effort

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the loss of at least 10 lives linked to severe weather events affecting several provinces.

The President’s thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the people who have died in events arising from heavy rainfall, flooding, thunderstorms, damaging winds and snowfall.

Government has, through the National Disaster Management Centre, declared a national state of disaster in response to the loss of life, infrastructure damage, disruptions to essential services, and the displacement of communities.

President Ramaphosa assures the nation that national, provincial and municipal authorities will work with communities to address the effects of the disaster.

President Ramaphosa appreciates the way in which individuals, civil society organisations and the business sector have stepped forward to alleviate the difficulties inflicted by natural events.

The President also appreciates the way in which rescue and recovery crews are responding in conditions where the weather also has an impact on recovery and rescue operations, including limited air operations.

President Ramaphosa said: “As winter sets in, we are vulnerable to events which we may be able to forecast but whose actual intensity in specific locations we may not be able to predict.

“We are, however, making the best use of science to pre-empt some of these events and to respond to the aftermath.”

The President says the National Disaster Management Centre and Cabinet will be updated on critical forecasts and disastrous impacts and responses will be modified as conditions dictate.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Les organismes énergétiques mondiaux se réunissent à l’African Energy Week 2026 pour façonner l’avenir énergétique du continent

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Alors que l’Afrique intensifie ses efforts pour concilier sécurité énergétique, croissance industrielle et décarbonisation, l’African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 réunira un groupe influent d’associations mondiales dont le travail définit de plus en plus la trajectoire des systèmes énergétiques du continent. La participation de Nikki Martin, présidente-directrice générale d’EnerGeo Alliance ; d’Anibor Kragha, secrétaire exécutif de l’Association africaine des raffineurs et distributeurs (ARDA) ; et de Carol Koech, vice-présidente pour l’Afrique au sein de la Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), marque un tournant vers une coordination plus étroite tout au long de la chaîne de valeur énergétique – des données souterraines et des investissements en amont aux infrastructures en aval et à l’accès universel à l’énergie.

Sous la direction de Nikki Martin, EnerGeo Alliance s’est attachée à promouvoir le rôle des géosciences et de l’exploration fondée sur les données pour réduire les risques liés aux investissements sur les marchés frontières. Ses récentes initiatives stratégiques, notamment des partenariats visant à soutenir la relance des activités d’exploration dans des pays tels que la Libye, reflètent une volonté plus large de rétablir la rigueur technique et la confiance des investisseurs dans les secteurs en amont africains. En renforçant le lien entre les informations sur le sous-sol et les décisions politiques, EnerGeo aide les gouvernements à positionner leurs ressources de manière plus compétitive sur un marché mondial où les capitaux sont limités.

En complément de cette orientation en amont, l’ARDA a été à l’avant-garde du renforcement de la résilience de l’Afrique en aval. Lors de sa conférence annuelle de 2026, l’association a souligné que la sécurité énergétique était une priorité absolue, les raffineurs de tout le continent s’efforçant de se protéger contre la volatilité du marché mondial et les perturbations de l’approvisionnement. Cela intervient alors que l’Afrique continue d’étendre ses capacités de raffinage et de réduire sa dépendance vis-à-vis des produits pétroliers importés, une évolution cruciale non seulement pour la souveraineté économique, mais aussi pour la stabilisation des marchés énergétiques nationaux. Le travail de l’ARDA recoupe de plus en plus les objectifs d’industrialisation plus larges, positionnant les réseaux de raffinage et de distribution comme des catalyseurs clés de la croissance.

Le GEAPP, au sein duquel M. Koech dirige la stratégie africaine de l’organisation, fait le lien entre ces systèmes énergétiques traditionnels et les ambitions de transition à long terme du continent. L’alliance s’est rapidement imposée comme une force centrale dans la mobilisation de financements mixtes pour l’électrification à grande échelle et le déploiement des énergies renouvelables. En 2026, le GEAPP et ses partenaires ont dépassé les 100 millions de dollars d’engagements pour soutenir la Mission 300 – une initiative visant à connecter 300 millions d’Africains à l’électricité d’ici 2030 – tout en s’efforçant simultanément de débloquer des flux bien plus importants de capitaux publics et privés. Grâce à une assistance technique, au développement de projets et à des interventions visant à façonner le marché, le GEAPP contribue à traduire des ambitions de haut niveau en projets bancables dans près d’une vingtaine de pays.

« L’African Energy Week a toujours eu pour objectif de réunir les bons partenaires au bon moment », a déclaré NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie. « La participation d’organisations telles que l’EnerGeo Alliance, l’ARDA et le GEAPP reflète l’alignement croissant que nous observons dans le paysage énergétique mondial. Ce sont des institutions qui non seulement façonnent les politiques et les investissements, mais apportent aussi activement des solutions sur le terrain – et leur engagement lors de l’AEW 2026 sera déterminant pour faire progresser les ambitions énergétiques de l’Afrique. »

Alors que l’AEW continue d’évoluer pour devenir une plateforme de dialogue énergétique intégré, l’inclusion de ces associations mondiales renforce son rôle de point de convergence pour les partenariats qui définiront la prochaine phase de croissance de l’Afrique. Leur participation reflète la prise de conscience croissante que l’avenir énergétique de l’Afrique ne peut être abordé par des approches fragmentées, mais par une action coordonnée entre les secteurs, les institutions et les zones géographiques.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.

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Organismos energéticos globais reúnem-se na African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 para moldar o futuro energético do continente

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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À medida que África acelera os esforços para equilibrar a segurança energética, o crescimento industrial e a descarbonização, a African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 reunirá um grupo influente de associações globais cujo trabalho está a definir cada vez mais a trajetória dos sistemas energéticos do continente. A participação de Nikki Martin, Presidente e CEO da EnerGeo Alliance; Anibor Kragha, Secretário Executivo da African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA); e Carol Koech, Vice-Presidente para África na Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), sinaliza uma mudança no sentido de uma coordenação mais profunda ao longo de toda a cadeia de valor energética – desde dados do subsolo e investimento a montante até infraestruturas a jusante e acesso universal à energia.

A EnerGeo Alliance, sob a liderança de Martin, tem vindo a promover o papel das geociências e da exploração baseada em dados na redução do risco dos investimentos nos mercados de fronteira. Os seus recentes compromissos estratégicos, incluindo parcerias que apoiam a renovação da atividade de exploração em países como a Líbia, refletem um esforço mais amplo para trazer de volta o rigor técnico e a confiança dos investidores aos setores a montante africanos. Ao reforçar a ligação entre a informação sobre o subsolo e as decisões políticas, a EnerGeo está a ajudar os governos a posicionar os seus recursos de forma mais competitiva num mercado global com restrições de capital.

Complementando este foco no upstream, a ARDA tem estado na vanguarda do reforço da resiliência do downstream africano. Na sua conferência anual de 2026, a associação sublinhou a segurança energética como uma prioridade máxima, com as refinarias de todo o continente a tomarem medidas para se protegerem da volatilidade do mercado global e das perturbações no abastecimento. Isto acontece num momento em que África continua a expandir a capacidade de refinação e a reduzir a dependência de produtos petrolíferos importados, uma mudança que é crítica não só para a soberania económica, mas também para a estabilização dos mercados energéticos domésticos. O trabalho da ARDA cruza-se cada vez mais com objetivos de industrialização mais amplos, posicionando as redes de refinação e distribuição como facilitadores-chave do crescimento.

A fazer a ponte entre estes sistemas energéticos tradicionais e as ambições de transição a longo prazo do continente está a GEAPP, onde Koech lidera a estratégia africana da organização. A aliança emergiu rapidamente como uma força central na mobilização de financiamento misto para a eletrificação em grande escala e a implantação de energias renováveis. Em 2026, a GEAPP e os seus parceiros ultrapassaram os 100 milhões de dólares em compromissos para apoiar a Missão 300 — uma iniciativa que visa ligar 300 milhões de africanos à eletricidade até 2030 —, trabalhando simultaneamente para desbloquear fluxos muito maiores de capital público e privado. Através de assistência técnica, desenvolvimento de projetos e intervenções de modelagem de mercado, a GEAPP está a ajudar a traduzir ambições de alto nível em projetos financiáveis em quase duas dezenas de países.

“A African Energy Week sempre teve como objetivo reunir os parceiros certos no momento certo”, afirmou NJ Ayuk, Presidente Executivo da African Energy Chamber. «A participação de organizações como a EnerGeo Alliance, a ARDA e a GEAPP reflete o crescente alinhamento que estamos a observar no panorama energético global. Trata-se de instituições que não só estão a moldar políticas e investimentos, mas também a fornecer ativamente soluções no terreno – e o seu envolvimento na AEW 2026 será fundamental para fazer avançar as ambições energéticas de África.»

À medida que a AEW continua a evoluir para uma plataforma de diá. energético integrado, a inclusão destas associações globais reforça o seu papel como ponto de encontro para as parcerias que definirão a próxima fase de crescimento de África. A sua participação reflete o crescente reconhecimento de que o futuro energético de África não pode ser abordado através de abordagens fragmentadas, mas sim através de uma ação coordenada entre setores, instituições e geografias.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.