Five of Africa’s top energy ministers will convene at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 12 to 16, as the continent accelerates a multi-billion dollar push across oil, gas and power infrastructure.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) confirmed the ministerial lineup, which includes Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies Mourad Adjal, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines Birame Soulèye Diop, Zambia’s Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote, and Niger’s Minister of Petroleum Hamadou Tinni.
The gathering is expected to move beyond broad policy pledges into concrete project timelines, investment terms and regulatory reforms. Each minister will be positioned to offer investors direct insight into their country’s most active energy markets, where new barrels, pipelines and megawatts are reshaping regional growth.
Ghana arrives at the forum backed by a $3.5 billion upstream reinvestment programme, extended production licences for the Jubilee and TEN oil fields through 2040, and plans for a 1,200-megawatt state thermal power plant. The government is also working to clear approximately $500 million in gas sector arrears as part of efforts to stabilise the energy value chain.
Algeria’s delegation will present a sweeping $60 billion sector transformation, anchored by a 500-well drilling campaign and a 1.48-gigawatt solar initiative described as the “Project of the Century.” The North African producer is also advancing refinery capacity and early-stage hydrogen export corridors targeting European buyers.
Senegal arrives with strong production momentum. Its offshore Sangomar Oil Field delivered 36.1 million barrels in 2025, surpassing forecasts, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project reached approximately 2.9 million tonnes per year after first gas production. The country is now preparing a second phase at Sangomar aimed at lifting output beyond 100,000 barrels per day.
Zambia is targeting 2,500 megawatts of new generation capacity after drought reduced output from its dominant hydropower assets. The country has launched an Energy Single Licensing System to accelerate project approvals and is aiming for 10 gigawatts of total generation by 2030, with solar and wind contributing roughly one-third of the mix.
Niger, meanwhile, is leveraging its newly completed 1,950-kilometre crude export pipeline to Benin, which now moves up to 90,000 barrels per day to international markets. The government is also rolling out digital monitoring systems to improve oversight and transparency across its petroleum sector.
AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk said the calibre of ministerial participation reflects the scale of real opportunities now emerging across the continent. He described Africa as a continent moving decisively from strategy to execution, creating a platform where investors can engage directly with the policymakers shaping its next wave of oil, gas and energy growth.
African Energy Week 2026 is organised by the African Energy Chamber.
