Kenya, the host of this year’s Africa Energy Forum, handed over the baton to Egypt after the high-level summit ended in Nairobi.
Key sector players including Kenya’s President William Ruto and the President-Designate of COP28 Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber graced the 4-day energy forum.
The theme for this year’s Africa Energy Forum was “Africa for Africa – Building Energy for the Just Transition.”
In his address to delegates, President Ruto gave a passionate speech rallying leaders to invest in renewable energy sources.
According to the Kenyan leader, developing green energy sources would be a pathway to a more prosperous and equitable Africa.
“The purpose of this forum is to share this secret, which is hidden in plain sight, with a broader global audience of investors and innovators: The Future is powered by African Energy,” the Kenyan President noted.
Furthermore, select youth who stood out with their contribution towards transitioning to sustainable energy received the prestigious Power Hand Award.
Zeddy Bariti- a Kenyan running a podcast focusing on access to green energy and sustainability within the East African region received an award.
YES23 at Africa Energy Forum
At the same time, the Youth Energy Summit (YES) brought together delegates from across the continent and beyond to discuss the role of the youth in the revolution to green energy.
Young entrepreneurs and professionals in early stages of their careers within the energy sector took part in the YES23 summit.
Paul Hinks, the Founder and Chief Executive officer, CEO, Symbion Power Group, USA moderated the session.
Participants included William Kamkwamba, Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of the Moving Windmills Project and Charlene Ruto, Youth Champion and Climate Change Action Champion, Republic of Kenya.
Others were, David Muthike from KenGen, Gathoni Kimani, from Clean Cooking Alliance, Khilna Dodhia, CEO & Co-Founder, Kenergy Renewables, and Raul Alfaro-Pelico, Senior Director, RMI Global South Programme, RMI.
Sector players ink deals at Africa Energy Forum
In addition, the aef23 set the stage of several bilateral agreements and commitments between dignitaries and multilateral heads attending the conference.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), for example, committed to invest $88.9 million towards green energy projects within the East and Central Africa Region.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced the investment during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Power Africa initiative.
Additionally, the initiative seeks to help countries in the region invest in green energy projects.
COP28 Designate-President at aef23
Also among the speakers who headlined the Africa Energy Forum in Nairobi was Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the Chairman of Madsar, a renewable energy developing company.
Al Jaber addressed the delegates on the progress and upcoming projects by Madsar in Africa.
Currently, Madsar is Africa’s largest renewable energy company through its platform for Africa named Infinity Power.
“We are proud of our role in the continent’s energy transition,” Al Jaber noted.
“Together with our partners, we are developing and operating projects with a capacity of over 10 GW, capable of delivering electricity to up to 30 million people.
Our pipeline of projects also include the development of Africa’s largest wind farm, a 10 GW mega-facility in Egypt,” he added.
Attention now shifts to Egypt which is set host aef24 .
“On behalf of the KenGen and EnergyNet team, it is now my pleasure to invite you all to the 26th Africa Energy Forum in Egypt!
We look forward to working together with the people of Africa to help solve our most urgent energy challenges,” KenGen Board Chairman, Julius Migos Ogamba said.