South Africa: G20 African Energy Investment Forum to drive energy sector innovation

The G20 African Energy Investment Forum, organised by the African Energy Chamber (AEC), is taking place on November 21 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The forum offers Africa a chance to attract global investment and shape policies that support both economic growth and environmental protection, with different sessions, high-level panel discussions and fireside chats being scheduled for the day.

An Investing in Future Energy panel will highlight Africa’s role in clean-energy innovation and its growing importance in the global energy transition. At the event, international and African energy and finance leaders will discuss how public–private investment can support energy innovation and the development of clean, digitally enabled intelligent energy systems.

“As the global energy landscape undergoes a digital transformation, Africa is positioning itself not as a follower, but as a force for innovation,” the AEC said in a press release on November 17.

During panel discussions, policymakers, investors and industry leaders will focus on how partnerships can advance new technologies and AI adoption, helping the African continent compete in the digital era.

Speakers will include Nzan Ogbe, CEO of Levene Energy (Nigeria); Simon Karikari, CEO at Vodacom Mozambique; Stan Pillay, Regional Carbon & Innovation Lead for Africa at Anglo American; Nick Rowley, Managing Director at Green Asset Exchange (South Africa) and Maxwell Msabala, Senior Manager - Nuclear New Build at South Africa’s national utility Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

“The conversation will address how to expand digitalisation for energy access, strengthen indigenous capacity in AI and data analytics, and develop resilient, green data-centre ecosystems that support digital trade and economic growth without exacerbating energy poverty,” the AEC said.

According to the Chamber, financing innovation will be a central theme, with experts assessing how blended finance, green bonds and carbon markets can help scale clean and smart energy infrastructure across the continent.

The discussion will reflect G20 nations’ broader goals of building green digital infrastructure, creating resilient energy systems and improving carbon-market transparency, says the AEC.

By placing Africa at the centre of these themes, the forum shows how the continent’s digital and clean-energy progress can drive a more balanced global energy transition.

“The G20 platform gives Africa the visibility and partnerships it needs to define its own energy future,” said AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk. “By investing in digital innovation, AI and clean technologies, we can ensure Africa is not left behind in the global transition. We can lead it, on our own terms.”