Let's Talk Energy Podcast

Africa has some of the world's strongest renewable resources. The bigger opportunity may be in how that power is delivered.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation.For Zoisa, Africa has an opportunity to avoid some of the expensive legacy systems seen elsewhere and build power markets differently from the outset. That means looking beyond generation alone to the grid, battery storage, digital technology and, crucially, the end consumer.The conversation explores the thinking behind Octopus Energy Power Africa, an initiative aiming to mobilise $450 million for African renewables, with an initial focus on the Southern African Power Pool. Zoisa argues that combining abundant solar and wind resources with storage and smarter grids could help deliver cheaper, more secure electricity while creating a stronger proposition for energy-intensive industries, including data centres.The discussion also turns to Sierra Leone, where Octopus Energy is developing a hybrid wind, solar and battery project on Sherbro Island designed to bring electricity to 14,000 people for the first time. From refrigeration for the fishing industry to rice milling, Zoisa explains why affordable electricity can become a catalyst for entirely new economic activity.Could Africa turn its renewable resources into one of its greatest industrial advantages?

Renewables are no longer just part of Africa's decarbonisation story. They are becoming central to how the continent powers mines, manufacturing, infrastructure and long-term economic growth.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series from the Africa Energy Forum 2026 with Vincenzia Leitich, Executive Vice President, Power & Renewables, Client Coverage, Standard Bank.The conversation looks beyond standalone renewable projects to the rise of integrated energy systems combining generation, storage, transmission, gas flexibility and distributed power. Vincenzia explores how open-access markets, private-sector participation and mining demand are creating new investment models, while grid constraints, currency risk and utility bankability continue to complicate capital deployment.With Africa holding some of the world's strongest renewable resources alongside rapidly growing power demand, the episode asks whether innovative finance, regulatory reform and deeper collaboration between governments and capital providers can turn the energy transition into a broader industrial growth story.

Battery storage is moving beyond emergency backup. For Africa's industries, mines and communities, it could become critical infrastructure.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Marius Harmse, Country Director at Tecloman.The conversation explores how Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can reduce exposure to unreliable grids and diesel generation, support renewable integration and give major power users greater control over when and how they consume electricity.But the opportunity extends beyond reliability. Harmse argues that Africa should capture more of the battery value chain itself, from processing critical minerals to manufacturing components, developing local companies and creating jobs.As storage moves from backup to backbone, the episode asks a bigger question: can Africa turn its energy challenge into an industrial opportunity?

Africa can add more megawatts. But if power cannot move reliably through the grid, industry cannot depend on it and investors cannot finance it at scale.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy speaks with Sindhura Swaminathan, Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, in a conversation recorded around the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town.Sindhura argues that the investment conversation needs to move beyond generation capacity towards the power system itself. Transmission constraints, curtailment, weak utility creditworthiness and uncertain offtake can undermine otherwise viable projects, making grid stability as much a financing challenge as a technical one.The conversation also looks at what a realistic pathway to industrialisation could require: renewables supported by battery storage and dispatchable generation, including gas, alongside stronger domestic grids and regional power pools.For Sindhura, the measure of progress is ultimately trust. By 2035, success may depend less on how much renewable capacity Africa has installed and more on whether it has built reliable, predictable power systems that investors are prepared to finance at scale.

Africa's infrastructure challenge is often framed as a shortage of capital. But what if the bigger constraint comes before the money?Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Aida Sitdikova, Director and Head of Sustainable Infrastructure, Middle East and Africa at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).For Aida, infrastructure becomes a driver of industrialisation when it is treated not simply as an end result, but as a platform for economic growth. Power, grids and connections need to enable businesses to invest, industrial clusters to expand and trade to move more efficiently across borders.That starts with policy. From weak PPA bankability and off-taker creditworthiness to tariff design and regulatory uncertainty, Aida argues that many of the barriers holding back capital are rooted in the conditions surrounding projects. Get the risk allocation and regulatory environment right, and private investment is far more likely to follow.Looking towards 2035, the conversation turns to where the next opportunities could emerge: grid expansion, regional power interconnections, affordable renewable energy, battery storage and other system-level infrastructure capable of supporting a more connected and competitive African economy.

Africa does not only need more electricity. It needs energy investment that moves in step with economic growth.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Edward Borgstein, Advisor at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet.For Edward, one of the biggest challenges is not technology or even the availability of capital. It is coordination. Power projects need productive demand, while mines, agriculture, industry and businesses need reliable electricity before they can grow. Getting both sides to develop together is critical to creating bankable projects.The conversation explores Mission 300, the role of blended finance and the challenge of attracting long-term infrastructure capital into last-mile electrification. Edward also discusses Global Energy Alliance's work on productive use, distributed renewables and new models designed to turn electricity connections into economic opportunity.Edward also references Structuring for the Last Mile, a report developed by Global Energy Alliance with Lightrock, Columbia University and other partners, examining how governments and the private sector can share risk, improve delivery and attract long-term finance into last-mile energy access.And as Africa's energy sector matures, he makes a counterintuitive case: perhaps the goal should be to make infrastructure investment less innovative, and far more predictable.

Africa's industrial ambitions will require more electricity. But Haytham Abdo argues that simply adding megawatts is no longer enough.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Haytham Abdo, Director, Business Development at Desert Technologies.The conversation explores how AI and data could turn renewable energy projects into intelligent infrastructure for agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and other productive sectors. Abdo points to Desert Technologies' use of AI for predictive maintenance, energy management and agriculture, where its technology has helped increase crop yields by more than 25%.But the bigger argument is about finance. If bankability depends on confidence, could better operational data, predictive cash flows and smarter energy management make distributed energy infrastructure easier to finance at scale?For Africa, the next energy race may not be about who builds the most power. It may be about who builds the smartest.

Africa doesn't lack infrastructure projects. It needs more bankable ones.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Moshood Abolade, Investment Director at Africa50.With Africa50 having made investment commitments across 33 projects in 32 countries, Abolade argues that Africa needs to move beyond financing infrastructure project by project towards programmatic, ecosystem-led investment capable of attracting institutional and private capital at scale.From transmission PPPs and project bankability to gas, renewables, critical minerals and the continent's growing data centre opportunity, the conversation asks what it will take to finance Africa's industrial ambitions, and where the next major opportunities for infrastructure capital could emerge.

Africa's energy security may depend as much on cooperation as it does on new generation.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Eng. Sithembinkosi Zwelibanzi Mhlanga, Director - Projects & Dam Management Services at the Zambezi River Authority.With Zambia and Zimbabwe sharing one of Southern Africa's most strategic energy assets, the conversation explores how the Zambezi River Authority is responding to climate variability while balancing water management, hydropower generation and long-term energy security.At the centre is the proposed 2,400MW Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Scheme, a project with ambitions beyond Zambia and Zimbabwe. From blended finance and bankability to regional power trading and interconnected infrastructure, the episode asks whether shared resources could become a catalyst for a more integrated and resilient Southern African power market.

Africa's energy transition needs more than engineers. It needs technicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, commercial talent and a workforce ready to turn energy access into economic opportunity.In this episode of Let's Talk Energy, Efua Nyamekye Appiah, Energy and Just Transition Lead at GAYO, explores where young Africans can build careers across the renewable energy value chain, from operations and maintenance to sales, research and the productive use of energy.Recorded at the West African Energy Cooperation Summit (WAECS) at YES! On the Road Ghana, in partnership with The Electricity Hub, the conversation also asks whether education, national service and industry are doing enough to prepare young people for the opportunities ahead.

Career progression is rarely linear. Moving into leadership takes more than experience - it requires positioning, visibility and consistent development.In this episode of Let's Talk Energy, John Appiah of A League Consult draws on his experience mentoring professionals across Africa to explore personal brand, sponsorship and leadership readiness, alongside how young professionals can turn career setbacks into momentum.Recorded at the West African Energy Cooperation Summit (WAECS) at YES! On the Road Ghana in partnership with The Electricity Hub, the conversation offers a practical look at what it takes to move from entry-level to executive.

Ghana wants new power. Investors want certainty. The challenge is turning ambition into bankable projects.In this episode of Let's Talk Energy, Kofi Amoako Asiedu of Early Power Ltd. breaks down what it takes to deliver power projects in Ghana, from PPP structures and off-taker risk to financing and renewable energy integration.Recorded at the West African Energy Cooperation Summit (WAECS) at YES! On the Road Ghana in partnership with The Electricity Hub, the conversation offers a practical look at the risks investors are weighing and why bankability remains critical to getting projects built.

AI and IoT are already being deployed across Africa - but can the continent build the skills, infrastructure and systems needed to take them to scale?In this episode of Let's Talk Energy, Joshua Opoku Agyemang, President of IoT Network Hub Africa, explores how smart technologies are being applied across sectors from energy to agriculture, and why Africa's young innovators are increasingly leading deployment, not simply participating in it.Recorded at the West African Energy Cooperation Summit (WAECS) at YES! On the Road Ghana in partnership with The Electricity Hub, the conversation looks at what comes next as Africa's digital economy moves from adoption to execution.

AI is moving from hype to application across Africa - but can adoption translate into jobs, skills and economic growth?In this episode of Let's Talk Energy, Joseph Berkoh explores what it will take to build an AI-ready African workforce, from youth-led innovation and emerging policy frameworks to Ghana's ambitions for a $1bn technology hub.Recorded at the West African Energy Cooperation Summit (WAECS) in Ghana in partnership with The Electricity Hub, the conversation looks beyond access to the bigger question: how can Africa turn AI into economic opportunity for its next generation?

Africa needs more power. But it also needs power that is reliable, affordable - and available when industry needs it.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Stephen Ye, Global Investment Director at RelyEZ. Stephen argues that the economics of storage are changing the equation. With solar-plus-storage projects potentially deployed far faster than conventional power infrastructure, the conversation explores what BESS could mean for mines, manufacturing, data centres and other power-intensive industries - and whether storage can make the next generation of African energy projects more bankable. From grid resilience and project finance to localisation and battery manufacturing, the bigger opportunity may extend beyond deploying batteries: could Africa become part of the global battery value chain itself? 

Africa's energy ambitions are growing. But can the capital required to deliver them keep pace?Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town with Somkele Awa-Kalu, Finance Specialist at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).The conversation moves beyond energy access to the financing needed to turn electricity into economic growth. From Nigeria's $500 million Distributed Renewable Energy Fund to blended finance, local institutional capital and policy reform, Somkele discusses how reducing risk and lowering the cost of capital could move distributed energy into the investment mainstream.With Nigeria pursuing ambitious energy and industrialisation targets, the question is increasingly not whether capital exists, but what it will take to make energy projects investable at scale.

As Africa seeks to accelerate industrial growth, the conversation is shifting beyond power generation to the legal and regulatory frameworks that determine whether projects attract long-term investment. In this episode of Let's Talk Energy, hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub and recorded at Africa Energy Forum 2026, Oludare Senbore, Partner and Head of the Power Practice at Aluko & Oyebode, discusses what makes energy markets bankable, why regulatory certainty matters to investors, and the reforms needed to turn energy infrastructure into a driver of industrialisation.

Africa's energy challenge is no longer simply generating electricity. It's creating projects that investors can finance, industries can rely on and economies can build around. In the latest episode of Let's Talk Energy, hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub and recorded live at the Africa Energy Forum 2026, Vincenzia Leitich, Executive Vice President, Power & Renewables Client Coverage at Standard Bank, argues that the biggest barriers are no longer capital, but transmission, policy certainty and bankable project structures.From captive and embedded power to private offtake models and regional interconnectors, the conversation explores why Africa's industrial future will depend as much on financial architecture as energy infrastructure.

Recorded during the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town, this episode of Let's Talk Energy, hosted by ENN in partnership with The Electricity Hub, features Hussein Shoukry, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Siemens Energy. The conversation explores why transmission infrastructure, grid resilience and localisation have become just as critical as new generation capacity. Hussein Shoukry explains why grid investment should come before power generation, how localisation strengthens long-term energy security, and why access to advanced technologies will determine Africa's industrial competitiveness.

Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. But can off-grid innovation deliver more than energy access?Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) in partnership with The Electricity Hub, this episode of Let's Talk Energy, recorded at the Africa Energy Forum 2026, features Dr. Wale Aboyade, Global Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations at Sun King, discussing why distributed energy is becoming a driver of productivity, enterprise and industrial growth—and what it will take to deliver Mission 300 at scale.

Investment in renewable energy is accelerating across South Africa, with developers, lenders and international investors ready to finance the next generation of projects. Yet as the market matures, the industry's greatest challenge is no longer raising capital - it's building the transmission infrastructure needed to connect new capacity to the grid. Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) and The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 with Freddie Meyer, Chief Financial Officer at Mulilo. The conversation explores how renewable energy financing has evolved as South Africa's independent power producer market has matured, from traditional corporate finance to sophisticated project finance backed by local banks, international investors and development finance institutions. It also considers the economic and geopolitical pressures affecting project delivery - from inflation and currency volatility to global supply chains - and why battery energy storage is becoming an increasingly important part of South Africa's renewable energy investment landscape. The episode highlights why access to capital is no longer the biggest constraint on renewable energy development and why expanding South Africa's transmission network will be critical to accelerating the next wave of solar, wind and battery projects.

Electric mobility is rapidly becoming one of Africa's most compelling infrastructure investment opportunities. As battery costs fall and commercial adoption accelerates, EVs are creating new opportunities across energy, transport, manufacturing and industrial development. Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) and The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 with Nikhath Akhtar Zigmund, Senior Investment Advisor and Head of Kenya at African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM). The conversation explores how electric mobility is creating investment opportunities beyond the vehicles themselves, from charging infrastructure and battery ecosystems to electricity demand, grid development and local manufacturing. Nikhath also explains why investors are increasingly backing the infrastructure that supports the wider EV ecosystem and what will be needed to scale the sector across Africa. The episode examines how early-stage capital, supportive policy and long-term infrastructure investment could help Africa move beyond importing electric vehicles to building competitive regional EV industries that support the continent's industrialised future.

Africa's energy and infrastructure pipeline is growing, but finance alone will not move projects from ambition to delivery. Does the continent have the technical expertise, leadership capacity and institutional systems required to execute at scale? Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) and The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its series recorded at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 with Zandile Hlatwayo, Strategy & Innovation Director of Allied Talent Partners (ATP). The conversation examines why projects often stall at the point of execution, from weak project preparation and complex stakeholder coordination to shortages of specialist expertise at critical stages of development. Zandile discusses ATP's work connecting organisations with highly skilled independent professionals across energy, infrastructure, climate and sustainable development, and explains why faster access to technical talent, stronger local knowledge and more flexible workforce models could help accelerate delivery across African markets. The episode also explores the importance of knowledge transfer, institutional capacity and long-term skills development, and why Africa's industrialised future will depend not only on building projects, but on building the workforce capable of sustaining them.

What does it take to deliver energy infrastructure at scale across one of the world's most diverse markets? And why are local partnerships becoming one of the biggest drivers of long-term success in Africa's energy transition?Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) and The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its special series recorded at the Africa Energy Forum 2026 with Ahmed Amin, Commercial Director, CPLP Countries, Elsewedy Electric.The conversation explores Elsewedy Electric's long-term commitment to Africa, from expanding manufacturing and investing in regional hubs to delivering transmission, distribution and turnkey energy projects across the continent.Ahmed discusses why understanding local markets, investing in people and building strong partnerships with governments and businesses are central to the company's growth strategy, and why bringing knowledge and execution closer to customers will be critical to supporting Africa's industrialisation and energy ambitions.

Can countries once defined by conflict become Africa's next investment frontier? What role will energy, mining and infrastructure play in rebuilding economies and attracting long-term private capital? Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) and The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy continues its special series recorded at Africa Energy Forum 2026 with H.E. Marc Mandaba, Minister of Economy, Planning and International Cooperation, Central African Republic. The conversation explores how the Central African Republic is using energy infrastructure, mining, regulatory reform and digitalisation to position itself as an emerging destination for investment. From Mission 300 and electricity access to critical minerals and industrial development, the episode examines how the country is seeking to turn economic reform into long-term growth.

Southern Africa's renewable energy market is entering a new phase. While South Africa continues to mature as one of the continent's largest solar markets, neighbouring countries are following different pathways, shaped by grid infrastructure, energy security, policy and investment.Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) and The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy speaks with Zaheer Khan, Regional Director for Southern Africa at Trina Solar, to examine the region's growth prospects, the expanding role of battery energy storage and the realities of localisation across the solar value chain. Recorded at Africa Energy Forum 2026, the conversation explores where the next opportunities are emerging and what they mean for developers, investors and the wider energy market.

Can Africa's energy transition deliver more than electricity? Can it create industries, strengthen local manufacturing, and generate long-term economic growth?Hosted by Energy News Network (ENN) and The Electricity Hub, Let's Talk Energy speaks with South Africa's Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, to examine why the next phase of the continent's energy transition will be defined not only by new generation capacity, but by localilocalisationstrial policy, and investment. Recorded at Africa Energy Forum 2026, the conversation explores how South Africa is positioning clean energy as the foundation of a more competitive and industrialised.

In partnership with The Electricity Hub, this episode explored how scalable, bankable energy projects are unlocking long-term private capital and reshaping Africa's infrastructure investment landscape.Karim Nasser, Executive Chairman of NANT Power and Advisor to the Petrodex Board, shared the story behind the Nant Power Generation Project in Sierra Leone—a landmark combined-cycle gas project designed to nearly double the country's generation capacity. The conversation examined how innovative financing structures, DFI partnerships and strong commercial fundamentals are turning frontier-market risk into investable opportunity.

As Ghana prepares to host YES! On The Road, the conversation turns to the generation already reshaping Africa's energy landscape.In partnership with The Electricity Hub, we speak with Damilola Hamid Balogun, Co-Founder of Youth Sustainable Development Network (YSDN) — a leader working at the frontline of clean energy access, climate advocacy and green skills development across the continent.From community electrification to youth-led enterprise, this episode explores what real empowerment looks like on the ground — and what must shift in policy and industry to unlock Africa's emerging green economy.

Regional power integration is increasingly critical as West African countries seek to expand access, stabilise grids, and reduce electricity costs. The West African Power Pool (WAPP) provides the framework for interconnected systems and regional power trade, but progress depends on close coordination between governments, utilities, and the private sector.Recorded at WAECS25 in Ghana in partnership with The Electricity Hub, H.E. Honourable Charles Umehai, Deputy Minister of Mines & Energy of Liberia, and Arnaud Gouet, Senior Vice President at Release by Scatec, discuss how policy alignment and private-sector delivery are advancing regional integration. The conversation examines cross-border interconnection, utility reform, and the partnerships needed to strengthen reliability and scale affordable power across West Africa.

As West Africa seeks scalable solutions to close its persistent energy access gap, governments and industry leaders are rethinking the role of off-grid and decentralised power. With grid expansion struggling to keep pace with population growth and rising demand, mini-grids, solar home systems, and captive power plants are becoming central to electrification efforts. Solar has transformed rural access, yet questions remain about long-term sustainability, the role of gas as a balancing fuel, and the commercial viability of decentralised systems for communities and investors.Dr. Abba Aliyu, Managing Director and CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Nigeria, examines how off-grid technologies can power West Africa's future and what it will take to create resilient, investment-ready markets across the region.From scaling productive-use energy and catalysing local manufacturing to strengthening industrial growth through captive power and balancing renewables with gas in decentralised systems, he explores how off-grid solutions can evolve from stop-gap measures into a core pillar of West Africa's long-term energy strategy.

Recorded in partnership with The Electricity Hub in Ghana during the West Africa Energy Cooperation Summit (WA-ECS), this episode captures a timely discussion at the heart of West Africa's evolving power market.Against a backdrop of shifting development finance priorities and tighter global liquidity, we sit down with Roger Stuart, Head of the Regional Hub at the European Investment Bank, to explore how development finance institutions, commercial banks and domestic investors are adapting to finance the region's next generation of power projects.From blended finance structures and local-currency solutions to the growing influence of pension and sovereign wealth funds, this conversation unpacks what a more resilient, locally anchored financing ecosystem could mean for West Africa's energy transition.

Recorded at the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town last year, this episode — produced in partnership with The Electricity Hub — examines how development finance is driving Africa's just energy transition.In conversation with British International Investment (BII), we explore the shift from corporate finance to energy access investing, how large-scale infrastructure is balanced with decentralised solutions, and how catalytic capital unlocks scale, strengthens grids and delivers measurable impact.

Nigeria's electricity sector is at a critical turning point, facing persistent grid instability, limited generation capacity, and the urgent need to integrate renewable energy at scale. In this episode, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Honourable Minister of Power, discusses the strategic vision guiding Nigeria's electricity future and the reforms needed to build a reliable, efficient, and inclusive power system.From strengthening generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure to accelerating renewable energy deployment, attracting private investment, and deepening regional energy cooperation across West Africa, he explores how decisive policy direction and regulatory innovation can unlock new opportunities for economic growth, energy security, and sustainable development.

West Africa is at a critical juncture in its energy transition. As countries expand generation, strengthen transmission and deepen cross-border power trade, the region is also racing to crowd in long-term private capital. But political risk, utility liquidity constraints and currency volatility continue to weigh heavily on project bankability.In this podcast interview, recorded during WA-ECS in Ghana, Aliyu Alhassan, Underwriter at African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), breaks down how risk guarantees, political risk insurance and credit enhancement tools are reshaping the investment landscape. He explains how these instruments are helping de-risk private participation, reinforce utility creditworthiness and support climate-aligned, multi-country energy projects—laying the groundwork for a more resilient and investable power sector across West Africa.

Recorded at aef in Cape Town, this episode of Let's Talk Energy explores how African power systems are being built from cables to clean energy. Produced in partnership with The Electricity Hub, the conversation features Ms. Nadia Derafa, Regional Business Development Director – Africa at Elsewedy Electric. From manufacturing cables, transformers, and meters to delivering large-scale renewable and EPC projects, Elsewedy Electric's footprint spans the full energy value chain across Africa.The discussion examines what it takes to deliver mega projects, adapt solutions to Africa's markets, and respond to rising energy demand — including the company's outlook on South Africa. 

Recorded in Ghana during WA-ECS last December, and produced in partnership with The Electricity Hub, this conversation explores how finance is shaping Africa's energy future.Sydney Nii Ayitey Tetteh, Executive Head of Client Coverage, Corporate & Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Ghana, unpacks the role of strategic financing, partnerships, and market frameworks in turning energy ambition into bankable, long-term development. From mobilising capital for power infrastructure to aligning public and private priorities, the discussion highlights how energy investment can drive industrialisation, competitiveness, and inclusive growth across the continent.

Recorded in Cape Town during aef 2025 and produced in partnership with The Electricity Hub, this episode features Hadyr Koumakpai, VP & GM Africa at JA Solar, on what it takes to scale solar across Africa.From utility-scale projects to systems powering farms, mines, and homes, the conversation explores how technology, partnerships, and policy are shaping a more resilient solar future for the continent

Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are becoming central to West Africa's push for stronger regional integration, cleaner energy systems, and more reliable power supply. As countries work to expand generation capacity, improve grid resilience, and accelerate sustainable development, strategic IPP investments are reshaping how the region plans, finances, and delivers energy infrastructure.Erik Granskog, CEO of Endeavor Energy, discusses the evolving role of IPPs in building West Africa's next-generation power systems. As the company behind transformational projects such as Twin City Energy in Ghana, the TE Power Project in Guinea, and the Bridge Power developments in Ghana, Endeavor Energy brings deep experience in developing large-scale, high-impact energy solutions across the region.

Across West Africa, the energy transition is advancing, but delivering results on the ground remains a challenge. Mini-grids, off-grid systems, and results-based finance are expanding access, yet depend on clear regulation, tariff certainty, and long-term commitment. Many communities still face limited access and high energy costs.Ngozi Beckley-Lines, Country Manager for Sierra Leone at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), explores how policy and finance are supporting Sierra Leone's electrification efforts through the Universal Energy Facility (UEF). She examines the reforms needed to unlock private investment, scale mini-grids, and build an investment-ready energy market that delivers lasting impact.

As Africa accelerates its push to expand electricity access, attention is shifting from capacity alone to performance. Solar trackers—designed to follow the sun's path and maximise output—are becoming a critical tool in improving project economics, reliability, and scale across both grid-connected and off-grid systems.In this episode of Let's Talk Energy recorded during aef last year in Cape Town, Rad Abdalhaq, Director of Business Development and Sales at Nextracker MENA explores how tracker technology, data integration, and local adaptation are influencing Africa's electrification roadmap—and what the continent's solar future could look like by 2040.

Southern Africa is entering a pivotal decade for energy, with rising demand, climate pressures, and an urgent need for investment.In this episode of Let's Talk Energy, in partnership with The Electricity Hub, Helen Lubamba of Stanbic Bank Zambia and Rentia van Tonder of Standard Bank — Lead Sponsor of ZimZam 2025— spoke about financing the region's energy transition.The conversation explored how mobilising capital, building climate-resilient infrastructure, and strengthening regional power systems can help Southern Africa accelerate its transition to clean, reliable power.

In this episode of the Let's Talk Energy Podcast, The Electricity Hub is delighted to speak with Kuso Kamwambi, Head of Zambia's Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) and Permanent Secretary of the Management Development Division.As Zambia works to turn national priorities into real results, Kuso Kamwambi explains how the PDU is reshaping policy delivery—expanding energy access, accelerating infrastructure projects, and driving the country's 1,000 MW solar ambition. She highlights how the Unit is breaking bottlenecks, using innovative delivery tools, and ensuring government priorities translate into measurable impact for citizens.

As Africa's energy landscape rapidly evolves, a new class of market actors is reshaping how power moves across the continent. In this 1st interview of the ZimZam 'Let's Talk Energy' Podcast, The Electricity Hub speaks with Monie Captan, Deputy CEO of Petrodex, one of West Africa's leading energy trading companies. With deep insight into the region's power markets, Monie Captan is driving initiatives that enhance liquidity, strengthen utilities, and open new pathways for efficient power delivery.Monie discussed how energy traders are transforming the sector, what this means for the future of national utilities and the regional grid, and the lessons from trader-backed projects across West Africa, particularly for emerging corridors like Zimbabwe and Zambia.

South Africa's power market reform marks a pivotal step toward a more reliable, competitive, and sustainable energy system. In this episode, Kesh Mudaly and Adwoa Banful, Power Sector experts at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), join Let's Talk Energy to discuss how structural reforms can unlock over R1.5 trillion in investment, strengthen grid capacity, and enable a just transition. From regulatory clarity and institutional readiness to the rise of green value chains and local job creation, they explore how market reform could redefine South Africa's power landscape — and its broader economic future.

Nigeria's energy transition is both a national imperative and a global expectation — and at its core lies the question of legal readiness. In this episode, Oludare Senbore, Partner at ALN Nigeria, Aluko & Oyebode, joins Let's Talk Energy to unpack how legal frameworks, policy reforms, and regulatory clarity will shape Nigeria's path toward a low-carbon future. From balancing the role of gas as a transition fuel to ensuring ESG compliance and investor confidence, Senbore offers expert insights into how the legal sector is positioning Nigeria to meet its energy and climate ambitions while navigating a rapidly evolving policy landscape.

In this episode, Sean Naude, Account Manager at Sungrow, discusses how the global renewable energy leader is driving Africa's clean energy transition. From pioneering solar-plus-storage in Malawi to enabling South Africa's first hybrid wind-solar-battery plant, Sungrow is redefining what's possible for sustainable power on the continent.Naude shares insights on how Sungrow is tackling the challenges of renewable integration, affordability, and scalability — while highlighting the policies, innovations, and partnerships shaping Africa's energy future.

In this episode, Thabile Ngwato, Co-Founder and CEO of Newzroom Afrika, reflects on her journey as a young media entrepreneur redefining how African stories are told. She shares insights on building a trusted news platform in a rapidly changing media landscape and explores how communication can influence public perception, policy, and participation in Africa's energy transition. Ngwato also highlights the importance of youth leadership, innovation, and collaboration in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future for the continent.

In this episode, Harry Boyd-Carpenter, Managing Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Group at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), discusses how African countries can successfully navigate the complex shift from coal to clean energy. Drawing on global experience from the EBRD's just transition initiatives, he shares insights on designing practical coal-to-clean roadmaps, balancing energy security with decarbonisation, and the critical role of policy tools like carbon pricing and subsidy reform. Boyd-Carpenter also highlights how international institutions can help bridge the gap between national ambition and local impact—ensuring that no community is left behind in Africa's clean energy journey.

In this episode, Dr. Enos Banda, CEO of ENERTRAG South Africa, explores how Contracts for Difference (CfDs) could accelerate renewable energy deployment across the continent. From ENERTRAG's legacy Darling Wind Farm to the upcoming 210 MW Hendrina Wind Project in Mpumalanga, Dr. Banda highlights how CfDs can de-risk investment, integrate hybrid systems like wind, solar, and hydrogen, and attract developers to frontier markets. He also shares ENERTRAG's vision for scaling renewables through innovative financing and infrastructure frameworks across South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, and beyond.