The continent must expand access whilst cutting emissions. Integrated firms are showing the path forward
By Our Reporter
When executives from Africa’s energy sector gather in Paris this April, they will address a challenge that defines the continent’s development: expanding energy access whilst reducing carbon emissions. The Invest in African Energy Forum on 22-23 April 2026 will examine how integrated energy companies can align strategy with Africa’s rising power demand and industrial ambitions through a panel titled “The Dual Mandate: Navigating Growth and Decarbonization in an Integrated Energy Sector.”
The priorities are clear. Integrated energy firms are scaling low-carbon power as public and private capital flows into utility-scale solar, wind and hybrid systems across Africa in 2025. South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme continues attracting private investment into large-scale solar and wind projects. Morocco’s Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex demonstrates how concentrated solar power can supply baseload electricity. The panel will examine how integrated companies can replicate these models in markets with limited grid infrastructure.
Oil and gas remain central to Africa’s energy mix and industrial growth. Integrated companies are adopting practices to reduce emissions whilst sustaining production. Nigeria’s Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme issued permits in December 2025 to capture 250-300 million cubic feet of flared gas per day. The programme is projected to attract $2bn in investment, generate nearly 3 gigawatts of electricity and cut approximately 6 million tonnes of COâ‚‚ annually. Methane leak monitoring, enhanced oil recovery with COâ‚‚ capture and flaring reduction are being implemented across Nigeria, Angola and Ghana, extending field life whilst improving environmental performance.
The forum will explore hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and bioenergy as tools to strengthen integrated energy portfolios. Green hydrogen projects in Morocco aim to supply clean fuels whilst anchoring industrial ecosystems, from green steel to sustainable aviation fuels, positioning the region as a renewable export hub. In southern Africa, Namibia’s HyIron Oshivela green hydrogen facility reached a milestone in 2025 by producing its first zero-emission hydrogen using solar power and battery storage, now set to support low-carbon iron production. These projects illustrate how hydrogen can drive industrial decarbonisation beyond electricity generation.
The event will allow financiers, energy executives and policymakers to assess investment-ready opportunities arising from these strategies. Hybrid systems that combine gas and renewables offer models for projects that deliver both financial returns and ESG outcomes. Speakers will discuss how integrated companies can leverage Africa’s abundant renewable resources, significant hydrocarbon reserves and growing power demand to promote economic development alongside emissions reductions.
The panel aims to demonstrate that Africa’s energy transition is not a choice between growth and decarbonisation. Integrated companies that scale low-carbon electricity, manage hydrocarbons responsibly and deploy advanced technologies will create investment opportunities, reduce energy costs and support industrial and manufacturing development across the continent. For investors attending the forum, the discussion offers a roadmap to commercially viable projects aligned with global climate goals.
