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Why Nigeria’s Electricity Operator, NISO, Needs Real Autonomy (Opinion)
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) was supposed to be different. Established by the Electricity Act 2023 and formally inaugurated in March 2025, NISO represented the sector’s answer to a decades-old problem: the conflict between operating Nigeria’s transmission and managing Nigeria’s electricity market cannot be accomplished by the same entity without compromising both functions.
The unbundling of these duties from the Transmission Company of Nigeria was heralded as transformative—a structural reform that would finally allow Nigeria to have a truly independent operator managing real-time grid operations and market functions with technical rigor, transparency, and autonomy.
Except that NISO has not been allowed to be independent. And the primary reason lies not in the legislation that created it, but in the persistent presence of another federal entity occupying the market space where NISO must operate: the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
The Architecture of Constraint
NBET is fully owned by the federal government. It was designed as a bulk trader and pool manager, yet over its decade-and-a-half existence, it evolved into something closer to a settlement organization—a financial intermediary that processes invoices between generation companies and distribution companies. The problem is structural: in a competitive electricity market, the system operator must be genuinely independent from trading functions. These roles have competing interests. The system operator’s job is to dispatch generation in real-time based on technical and economic merit to ensure grid stability. A trader’s job is to optimize financial outcomes within existing contracts.
When the system operator and the bulk trader are the same entity, or when they operate in close proximity within government, the independence erodes. When the system operator and the bulk trader report to different political masters—or when one is a federal agency and the other claims quasi-regulatory status—the result is incoherence and political constraint.
NISO sits at the intersection of these pressures. Its technical team has been tasked with making dispatch decisions that determine which generation reaches the grid. But those decisions cannot be made in a vacuum. They occur within a market structure where NBET still holds preferential relationships with government-owned generators like NDPHC, where PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) with NBET carry implicit political weight, and where the fed’s fiscal exposure to the power sector flows through NBET’s balance sheet.
The Real Costs of Constrained Independence
The consequences are not theoretical. NDPHC, which owns the largest portfolio of generation assets in Nigeria—over 5,000MW installed capacity across 10 power plants—faces challenges in dispatch allocation due to the absence of PPAs with NBET and operational constraints tied to its government-owned status.
This is telling. A national utility cannot dispatch its own generation efficiently because of contractual relationships with another federal entity. Meanwhile, as of March 25, 2026, only 2,908 megawatts was distributed to the country’s 11 electricity distribution companies, far below the already constrained 4,000-megawatt benchmark recorded earlier in the year.
The technical reality is that NISO knows what needs to happen: the system operator must be able to make fair dispatch decisions based on economics and grid stability, not based on which generation company has relationships with which federal agency. But politically, NISO cannot be the entity that “breaks” NBET’s arrangements or undermines the federal government’s exposure to power sector contracts. That political cost is passed to NISO, and the cost is borne by the grid.
Recent reforms have recognized this problem. Reforms in 2024/2025 began phasing out the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) as the dominant intermediary, enabling generation companies (GenCos) to enter direct bilateral agreements with distribution companies (DisCos). This is progress. But phasing out is not the same as eliminating. NBET still exists. It still holds preferential claims on government-owned generation. It still sits between NISO and market outcomes.
The Path to Real Independence
For NISO to work as intended, several conditions must be met: First, NBET must transition completely out of its role as a preferential intermediary for government-owned generation. If government wishes to maintain NDPHC as a strategic asset, it should do so transparently through subsidy mechanisms that are visible in the fiscal budget, not through contractual arrangements that constrain the system operator.
NISO must be able to dispatch NDPHC generation on merit, alongside every other generator, without political friction.
Second, NISO must have genuine regulatory independence from the Ministry of Power and other political actors. The board appointed in 2025 appears qualified, but appointment is only the beginning. Independence requires a clear governance structure that insulates technical decisions from political pressure. NISO’s dispatch decisions should be defensible on technical grounds, not subject to political override.
Third, all electricity trading must be conducted on the market, not through preferential federal arrangements. The move toward bilateral contracting and competitive trading is the right direction. NBET’s role should either transition entirely to private sector traders (who operate within market discipline) or be absorbed into NISO’s market operations as a regulated entity, not a federal political actor.
Finally, NISO must have the authority and resources to enforce its decisions. A system operator that cannot enforce its directives is merely advisory. The operator must have clear authority over dispatch, over ancillary services, over balancing, and over the technical standards that govern the grid.
Why This Matters Now
Nigeria’s electricity crisis is not a technical mystery. The constraints are known: gas supply is insufficient, transmission capacity is limited (TFL), distribution losses are high (ATC). But within those physical constraints, the system operator must optimize what is available. NISO cannot do that while operating under political constraints imposed by the presence of NBET and the federal government’s fiscal exposure to power sector contracts.
The Electricity Act 2023 provided the legislation for independence. The board appointments in 2025 provided the governance structure. What remains is the political will to let NISO actually be independent.
This is not about attacking NBET’s leadership or competence. It is about recognizing that two federal entities cannot occupy the same market space without conflict. If Nigeria is serious about power sector reform, it must complete the unbundling.
Let NISO be the independent system operator that the law intended. Let NBET either transition to private sector competition or be regulated as a participant, not a privileged federal actor.
The grid—and Nigeria’s industrial consumers—cannot wait any longer.
-Adetayo Adegbemle is a public opinion commentator/analyst, researcher, and the convener of PowerUpNigeria, an Electric Power Consumer Right Advocacy Group, based in Lagos. (Twitter: @gbemle, @PowerUpNg)
Kenya: SPE Board Of Directors Meets In Nairobi To Advance Global Energy Collaboration
The Board of Directors of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has convened in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together regional and international leaders to shape the organization’s strategic direction and strengthen collaboration across its global network.
The meeting is focused on discussing initiatives aimed at empowering energy professionals and students while driving innovation across the global energy industry.
Dr. Riverson Oppong, SPE Africa Regional Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) in Ghana, is hosting the Board of Directors meeting.
The gathering reflects Africa’s growing influence in the global energy conversation and highlights the contributions of SPE volunteers, industry leaders, and partners across the continent.
“It has been an honour to witness Kenya serve as a hub for technical excellence, leadership, and collaboration—from the SPE Africa Geothermal Workshop and Student Congress to today’s Board of Directors Meeting,” Dr. Oppong said in a post shared by SPE on LinkedIn.
“Together, these engagements demonstrate the power of knowledge sharing, volunteerism, and partnerships in shaping a sustainable energy future.
“Thank you to every volunteer, speaker, sponsor, partner, and participant whose dedication continues to make these milestones possible. The future of energy is built through collaboration, and Africa is helping lead the way.”
Pakistan Transporters Threaten Nationwide Strike Over Fuel Price Hikes
Pakistan’s goods transporters have threatened to launch a nationwide strike over rising fuel prices, adding to the economic pressures facing the country amid renewed tensions in the Middle East.
The Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance said transporters across the country should be prepared for a nationwide strike if fuel price increases continue.
“Transporters across Pakistan should remain prepared; a nationwide strike call can be given at any time,” Malik Shehzad Awan, president of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, said in a statement carried by local media on Friday.
The alliance criticized the government’s decision to raise fuel prices following renewed hostilities in the Middle East, which have pushed up global crude oil prices. It also opposed the government’s decision to review fuel prices on a daily basis, describing the policy as detrimental to the road transport sector.
Awan said repeated increases in diesel prices were placing significant financial pressure on freight operators, with many businesses facing the risk of closure.
Pakistan this week began revising gasoline and diesel prices on a daily basis, effective July 21, to reflect movements in international oil prices following the recent increase in crude prices.
The government said the new pricing mechanism would improve transparency by allowing domestic fuel prices to better reflect developments in global oil markets.
However, transporters have opposed the daily price adjustments and are seeking talks with the government to address their concerns.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s oil refiners are exploring alternative crude oil supplies from the United States, Nigeria, Singapore and Central Asia as the Middle East crisis threatens shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Following a meeting with the federal minister for petroleum, who briefed industry representatives on risks to crude oil supplies, refiners stepped up efforts to secure cargoes from suppliers outside the Middle East, according to local newspaper The News.
Malawi: Energy Minister Urges ESCOM To improve Electricity Reliability
Malawi’s Minister of Energy, Jean Sendeza Mathanga, has urged state-owned power utility Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Ltd to play a leading role in the country’s energy transition and ensure that strategic investments improve the reliability of electricity supply.
Mathanga said ESCOM remained central to Malawi’s industrialisation agenda and must ensure that investments such as the 20MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) translate into better service delivery.
“My message to ESCOM is that you must stand at the helm of this transformation. As the enabler of our industrial dreams, ESCOM’s role is to ensure that the wheels of our factories never stop turning and the lights in our hospitals never dim,” Mathanga said during the commissioning of the battery energy storage system in Lilongwe on Friday.
The minister commended ESCOM for improvements in electricity supply but urged the utility to continue working towards eliminating load shedding.
“We have suffered enough, we have promised enough, it is time to deliver. Let’s achieve zero load shedding,” she said.
Mathanga also commended the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), JIVO, Lahmeyer International, the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) and other stakeholders for their role in delivering Malawi’s first utility-scale battery energy storage system.
IEA Sees Global Electricity Demand Growth Accelerating In 2026 Despite Energy Market Turmoil
Global electricity demand is expected to grow at a faster pace in 2026 than in 2025 despite higher energy prices and disruptions to global energy markets, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its latest Electricity Mid-Year Update.
The IEA forecasts global electricity demand will rise by 3.6% in 2026 and by a further 3.8% in 2027, up from 3% growth in 2025. Global electricity consumption is projected to reach 30,700 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2027, compared with 28,600 TWh in 2025.
The agency said electricity demand would continue to be driven by industrial activity, wider use of electrical appliances, increased cooling demand, electric vehicle charging and the expansion of data centres.
Disruptions to liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, linked to conflict in the Middle East, have pushed natural gas prices in Asia and Europe to their highest levels since the 2022-23 energy crisis, increasing electricity generation costs and prompting some governments to introduce measures to curb energy use.
Despite the disruption, power systems have largely remained resilient, supported by additional LNG supplies, particularly from North America, which helped ease pressure on global markets.
Higher natural gas prices have encouraged some countries in Asia and Europe to switch electricity generation from gas to coal. At the same time, increasing renewable energy generation has diversified electricity supplies in many markets, improving energy security and reducing the impact of higher fuel costs.
The IEA said renewable energy is on track to become the world’s largest source of electricity generation in 2026, overtaking coal after reaching near parity in 2025.
Renewable electricity generation is forecast to grow by more than 8% in 2026, increasing its share of global electricity generation from 33% in 2025 to 37% by 2027.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) generation is expected to remain the fastest-growing source of electricity supply.
The IEA said solar PV would overtake wind power in 2026 to become the world’s second-largest renewable source of electricity after hydropower.
Global solar PV generation is projected to increase by about 600 TWh in 2026, matching the record annual increase recorded in 2025, with similarly strong growth expected in 2027.
Among the world’s largest economies, electricity demand in China is forecast to grow by 5.5% in 2026, supported by manufacturing activity and rising electric vehicle charging. Demand in India is expected to rebound by 7% after weaker growth in 2025 due to weather-related factors.
Electricity demand growth in advanced economies, including the United States and the European Union, is expected to remain close to 2%. By contrast, higher fuel costs and supply disruptions are projected to weigh on electricity consumption in LNG-importing Asian economies, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The report said weather conditions remain a key source of uncertainty. A stronger-than-expected El Niño event in 2026 could increase electricity demand by raising cooling needs while reducing hydropower and wind generation in some regions, leading to greater reliance on other sources of electricity.
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electricity generation are expected to rise by about 1% in 2026 before stabilising in 2027. While higher natural gas prices are expected to increase coal-fired generation, continued expansion of renewable energy and higher nuclear power output are projected to prevent further growth in emissions in 2027.
The LNG price shock has also pushed up wholesale electricity prices in markets that rely heavily on LNG. Average spot electricity prices in the European Union and Japan rose by more than 30% year-on-year during the second quarter of 2026. By comparison, wholesale electricity prices in the United States remained broadly stable, while prices in India increased by less than 10%.
The report said the continued expansion of renewable energy is contributing to more frequent periods of negative wholesale electricity prices in some markets, reflecting insufficient system flexibility caused by technical, regulatory or contractual constraints.
It said greater deployment of battery storage, demand response and other flexible technologies would be increasingly important to maintaining reliable and efficient electricity systems as price volatility increases.
Ghana: AGI Honours PETROSOL For Support To Industry Group
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has presented PETROSOL Platinum Energy PLC with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of the company’s support for the association and its activities.
PETROSOL is one of Ghana’s leading indigenous oil marketing companies.
The award was presented during a ceremony at the Coconut Grove Hotel in Accra, attended by industry leaders, AGI members and other stakeholders.
AGI said the recognition acknowledged PETROSOL’s continued sponsorship of the association and its contribution to Ghana’s industrial sector.
PETROSOL said it would continue working with industry stakeholders to support the development of Ghana’s industrial and energy sectors.
Malawi: Energy Minister Commissions ESCOM’s First Utility-Scale Battery Storage System
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Ltd on Friday commissioned a 20MW/40MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Kanengo in Lilongwe, marking the country’s first utility-scale battery energy storage facility.
The $20.245 million project, funded by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), is expected to improve the stability, reliability and flexibility of Malawi’s national electricity grid.
Malawi’s Minister of Energy, Jean Sendeza Mathanga, said the project was a key component of the country’s development agenda under the Malawi 2063 strategy.
“For decades, we have been at the mercy of the clock and the weather, but today we begin an era of energy independence on our own terms. Today, we are not just commissioning a facility of steel and lithium; we are commissioning the engine of our development,” Mathanga said.
She said reliable electricity was essential to achieving Malawi’s industrialisation objectives.
“There is no industrialisation without stable, reliable and affordable power,” she said.
Mathanga said the battery storage system would strengthen energy security, improve grid stability and support the country’s transition to a more resilient electricity sector.
“The BESS project is a cornerstone of our national energy compact, serving as a silent guardian of our national grid,” she said.
She added that the project would provide more reliable electricity to hospitals, schools and businesses while supporting greater integration of renewable energy into the national grid.
“Solar power may have sparked our energy revolution, but battery storage will sustain it,” she said.
Mathanga thanked GEAPP for funding the project and called on other development partners to support similar investments in Malawi’s energy sector.
Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi said ESCOM had improved its operational performance and communication with stakeholders while working to address electricity supply challenges.
“We are encouraged that ESCOM, through improved communication and operational performance, is working towards eliminating load shedding,” Saidi said.
He said the government would continue supporting investments aimed at strengthening Malawi’s electricity sector.
GEAPP Vice President Koech said the battery energy storage project demonstrated the value of partnerships between governments and development organisations.
She said the project was implemented through collaboration between the Government of Malawi, ESCOM Ltd and GEAPP, with engineering support from JIVO and Lahmeyer International.
Koech added that GEAPP was also supporting the establishment of the Southern Africa Battery Energy Storage Systems Centre of Excellence at Mzuzu University, in partnership with the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences.
The centre will provide training, research and knowledge-sharing on battery energy storage technologies for utilities, policymakers, researchers and private sector stakeholders.
Zimbabwe: Witeva Secures $5.3 Million Gasoil Shipment Through Afreximbank Platform
Zimbabwean fuel importer Witeva Trading has secured a US$5.3 million gasoil shipment from a Switzerland-based commodity trader and supplier, with Innbucks Microbank Ltd. acting as the local issuing bank.
The transaction, facilitated through Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) and the African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) trade ecosystem, marks Innbucks Microbank’s first completed transaction on the platform and ATG’s first energy-sector transaction in Southern Africa.
The deal highlights how African businesses can use a single digital ecosystem to identify trade opportunities, connect with verified counterparties, access trade finance and execute cross-border transactions more efficiently.
Peter Olowononi, Afreximbank’s Director of Regional Operations for Southern Africa, said the transaction demonstrates the benefits of bringing African businesses and financial institutions together through a connected trade ecosystem.
Read Also:Ghana: Energy Commission Plans Energy Efficiency Rules For New Buildings To Curb Power Consumption“By creating a digital ecosystem to expand access to trade finance, Afreximbank is enabling more businesses to participate more easily in regional and international trade,” Olowononi said.
Emeka Onyia, Afreximbank’s Director of Digital Business, said Africa Trade Gateway was designed to facilitate trade beyond simply providing a digital platform.
“The Africa Trade Gateway is more than a digital platform; it is an ecosystem that helps trade happen. We help businesses discover opportunities, connect with trusted buyers, suppliers and financial institutions, and support the journey from commercial opportunity to completed transactions,” Onyia said.
“Every successful deal strengthens the network, attracts new participants and creates more opportunities for African trade. As more businesses, banks and trade partners join the ecosystem, each completed transaction expands the marketplace, builds trust across the network and creates opportunities for future trade,” he added.
TotalEnergies Raises Second Interim 2026 Dividend By 5.9% To 90 Euro Cents/Share
French oil major TotalEnergies said on Thursday its board had approved a second interim dividend of 0.90 euros ($1.05) per share for the 2026 financial year, marking a 5.9% increase from the total interim and final dividends paid for 2025.
The company said the dividend matched the first interim dividend paid for 2026 and was consistent with its shareholder returns policy, which prioritises dividend growth in line with growth in cash flow.
The dividend will trade ex-dividend on Dec. 31, 2026, on both Euronext Paris and the New York Stock Exchange.
Shareholders on Euronext will receive payment on Jan. 5, 2027, while holders of shares listed on the NYSE will be paid on Jan. 22, 2027.
For NYSE-listed shares, the dividend will be converted into U.S. dollars using the WM/Refinitiv intra-day spot exchange rate published at 1400 Paris time on Jan. 14, 2027, the company said.
TotalEnergies also said a transfer freeze between its Euronext and NYSE share registers would be in place from Dec. 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. New York time until the opening of trading on Euronext, to facilitate the dividend payment process.
The dividend decision was approved by the board at a meeting held on July 22 under Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanné.
($1 = 0.8571 euros)
Ghana: Energy Commission Plans Energy Efficiency Rules For New Buildings To Curb Power Consumption
Ghana is developing energy efficiency regulations that would require developers of new buildings to incorporate energy-efficient designs before building permits are approved, officials said.
The proposed regulations are aimed at reducing electricity consumption in buildings as the country seeks to improve energy efficiency and lower power demand.
As part of preparations for implementation, the Energy Commission, Ghana’s electricity and natural gas regulator, has begun training officials from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), focusing on staff in physical planning and works departments.
The Commission has completed the first phase of the nationwide programme in the Greater Accra Region.
Speaking at the final stakeholder engagement in Accra, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission Chris Nanabanyin Yalley said energy efficiency had become a national development priority.
He said heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems account for about 50% of electricity consumption in air-conditioned buildings.
Yalley said the Commission’s Building Energy Efficiency Guidelines provide three compliance pathways: prescriptive, performance-based and certification-based.
He added that revisions had been proposed to the Local Government Service Operational Manual to integrate the requirements into MMDA building permit processes.
According to Yalley, the training programme, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has equipped physical planners, works engineers, building inspectors and environmental health officers to serve as energy efficiency champions within their assemblies.
He said the Commission would continue to provide technical support while working with partner agencies to implement the reforms nationwide. He added that the measures could reduce energy consumption in buildings by about 20% within five years.
Ebenezer Kyere, an officer with the Energy Commission’s Energy Efficiency Regulations Unit, said the proposed regulations are intended to promote energy-efficient building design and strengthen compliance through the building permit system.
In remarks delivered on her behalf, Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo said the region accounts for a significant share of Ghana’s electricity demand because of its concentration of residential, commercial and public infrastructure.
She said the growth required policies that promote sustainable and energy-efficient development.
Ocloo described the Energy Commission’s initiative to integrate energy efficiency into the building permit process as a practical step towards making energy efficiency a standard requirement in planning, design and construction.
She urged physical planners, engineers, architects, building inspectors and other built environment professionals to incorporate energy-saving principles into public infrastructure projects.
“We must adopt designs and technologies that reduce energy consumption while improving comfort, efficiency and long-term operational costs. Our planning decisions today will determine the sustainability of our cities tomorrow,” she said.
Ocloo also pledged the support of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies that demonstrate a commitment to implementing energy-efficient practices.
In remarks delivered on her behalf, Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo said the region accounts for a significant share of Ghana’s electricity demand because of its concentration of residential, commercial and public infrastructure.
She said the growth required policies that promote sustainable and energy-efficient development.
Ocloo described the Energy Commission’s initiative to integrate energy efficiency into the building permit process as a practical step towards making energy efficiency a standard requirement in planning, design and construction.
She urged physical planners, engineers, architects, building inspectors and other built environment professionals to incorporate energy-saving principles into public infrastructure projects.
“We must adopt designs and technologies that reduce energy consumption while improving comfort, efficiency and long-term operational costs. Our planning decisions today will determine the sustainability of our cities tomorrow,” she said.
Ocloo also pledged the support of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies that demonstrate a commitment to implementing energy-efficient practices.
Nigeria: Dangote Refinery Raises $2.5 Billion Through Oversubscribed Private Placement
Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa’s largest refinery, has raised $2.5 billion through a private placement of new equity, with investor demand reaching 3.7 times the size of the initial offering, the company said on Thursday.
The fundraising, which the company described as Africa’s largest publicly disclosed primary equity private placement by value, marks the refinery’s first equity capital raise involving external investors beyond its existing shareholders.
The proceeds will be used to support the expansion of the refinery and petrochemical complex, strengthen the company’s balance sheet and provide additional financial flexibility for future growth, Dangote Petroleum Refinery said in a statement.
The company said the offering attracted a broad range of international and African institutional investors, sovereign-related investment vehicles, development finance institutions and strategic partners.
Among the investors were Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and India Infra Buildco, an investment vehicle facilitated by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the statement said.
Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive of Dangote Industries and chairman of the refinery, said the transaction would broaden the company’s shareholder base while complementing internal cash flow and external financing for its expansion plans.
“It further demonstrates our commitment to developing domestic refining and petrochemical capacity, reducing Africa’s reliance on imported refined products and strengthening the continent’s energy security,” Dangote said.
David Bird, the refinery’s chief executive, said the level of investor demand reflected confidence in the company’s operations and long-term strategy.
“The demand we saw is a testament to our operational excellence, execution capacity and investor confidence in DPRP’s leadership,” Bird said.
He added that the fundraising would position the company to continue executing its long-term growth strategy while expanding refining and petrochemical capacity.
The company also acknowledged the support of its advisers in completing the transaction.
Grid Gap In Focus As Southern African Utility Leaders Join AEW Power Africa Today
Senior executives from some of Southern Africa’s top power utilities and grid operators are confirmed to speak at the Power Africa Today conference during African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town from October 12-16.
Their participation reflects the growing focus on transmission infrastructure, grid modernization and regional power market integration as the continent works to match generation growth with the networks needed to deliver it.
South Africa’s Eskom has stabilized its generation fleet after years of load-shedding, recording more than 340 consecutive days without power cuts and a 98.9% energy availability rate in the 2025-26 financial years.
Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane will speak at Power Africa Today as the utility advances a government-mandated unbundling that will separate its transmission assets into an independent system operator.
Joining Marokane is Velaphi Ntuli, Eskom’s Chief Nuclear Officer at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. Koeberg, Africa’s only operating nuclear plant, secured 20-year license extensions for both units in 2024 and 2025, ensuring 1,860 MW of baseload capacity through 2045.
With the updated Integrated Resource Plan (2025) calling for 5,200 MW of new nuclear capacity, Ntuli’s presence brings the role of nuclear baseload into the wider grid discussion at Power Africa Today.
In Uganda, installed generation capacity has more than doubled from 850 MW in 2014 to over 2,050 MW, but the transmission network has not kept pace. The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company (UETCL) is addressing this challenge through the Amari Power Transmission Project, a $50 million partnership with UK-based Gridworks that became the first independent transmission project in Africa to reach construction in early 2026. UETCL is also advancing the 298 km Uganda-Tanzania interconnector, due to begin construction in 2026-27. CEO Richard Matsiko will speak at the conference.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s ZESCO has introduced open-access grid regulations allowing private producers to wheel power through its network and adopted a multi-year tariff framework to give investors predictable returns.
The utility is targeting 1,000 MW of solar by end of 2026 to counter hydropower shortfalls and in May 2026 signed a memorandum of understanding with Stanbic Bank and GreenCo Power Services to jointly develop a portfolio of renewable projects for commercial and industrial customers. Managing Director Justin Loongo joins the Power Africa Today lineup to discuss these projects.
At regional level, Stephen Dihwa, Coordination Centre Executive Director of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), joins the conference as a time when regional integration is scaling. SAPP coordinates power planning, operations and trading across 12 SADC member states, nine of which are now physically interconnected.
In February 2026, the SAPP and the East Africa Power Pool signed an agreement to harmonize cross-border trading rules, while a World Bank-backed technical assistance program is supporting the expansion of the regional electricity market.
“Power utilities are at the heart of Africa’s industrial future,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “If we are serious about making energy poverty history, we need stronger collaboration between utilities, governments, investors and technology providers. Power Africa Today is where that collaboration takes shape.”
Power Africa Today brings together policymakers, utilities, investors and developers to address the regulatory, financial and infrastructural challenges of building interconnected electricity markets across the continent.
The conference takes place as part of AEW 2026 in Cape Town from October 12-16.
Ghana To Connect 159 Rural Communities In Savannah Region To National Grid Under Electrification Programme
Ghana has launched a rural electrification programme aimed at connecting 159 unelectrified communities in the Savannah Region to the national electricity grid by the end of 2026, as part of the government’s “Big Push” infrastructure initiative.
The Rural Electricity Intensification Project (REIP), being implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, was officially launched on Tuesday. Eight communities in the West Gonja Municipality were simultaneously connected to the national grid.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition Richard Gyan-Mensah, speaking on behalf of the sector minister, said the electrification programme forms part of President John Mahama’s “Big Push” agenda, which prioritises expanding electricity access in rural communities.
He said the project is expected to support economic growth, improve healthcare and education services, and enhance security in the beneficiary communities.
Gyan-Mensah said Ghana has achieved about 90% electricity access, placing it among the leading countries in Africa in terms of electrification. However, he said several rural communities remain without electricity, with the government targeting universal electricity access by 2030.
He said the government has allocated GH¢2 billion for electricity expansion under the first phase of the Big Push programme, covering the Savannah, Central, Oti and Volta regions.
More than GH¢600 million of that amount has been earmarked for the Savannah Region, where 107 communities will be connected to the national grid under existing contracts, he said.
Gyan-Mensah added that additional communities are being electrified under the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP), bringing the total number of beneficiary communities in the Savannah Region to more than 159.
He said electricity coverage in the region is currently estimated at between 50% and 60%.
He also said the government’s solar street lighting programme is progressing, with several communities in the region expected to benefit in the coming months.
Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Be-Awurebi said the project would help address longstanding electricity access challenges in the Eastern Gonja area while expanding power supply across the region. He said the initiative reflects the government’s efforts to extend infrastructure to underserved communities.
Member of Parliament for Damongo Samuel Abu Jinapor said the project to connect the eight communities began in 2023 and has now been completed under the current administration. He described reliable electricity as essential for improving livelihoods, supporting businesses, strengthening healthcare and education services, and promoting economic development.
Read Also:Zambia: President commissions 100-MW Chisamba Phase II Solar Plant, Says Power Cuts Have Ended
Jinapor said cooperation across political divides had contributed to the project’s completion, adding that such collaboration ultimately benefits local communities.
Residents welcomed the connection to the national grid after years without electricity.
“We thank the government very much for giving us the opportunity to see light and, most especially, our MP Abu Jinapor for this historic moment,” said Leticia, a resident of one of the beneficiary communities.
“We used to travel to Sawla to charge our phones, but now we can charge them in our own homes.”
She said access to electricity would improve daily life while creating new opportunities for businesses and young people in the community.
Oil Prices Surge To $100 As Red Sea Risks Rise
Oil prices rose for a fifth consecutive trading session on Thursday afternoon, climbing above $100 per barrel to their highest level in nearly two months, as escalating Houthi attacks on tankers in the Red Sea heightened concerns over Middle East oil supplies.
In early European trading, Brent crude rose 4.21% to $98.03 per barrel, while the U.S. benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), gained 3.16% to $89.57 per barrel, edging closer to the $90 mark.
The gains came as the Iran-aligned Houthi movement appeared to follow through on its pledge to target Saudi Arabia’s oil exports transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Red Sea is a critical export route for Saudi crude. In recent months, the Kingdom has redirected more than 70% of its crude exports that previously departed from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
According to reports, at least two oil tankers turned away from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed it had struck two Saudi tankers in the strategic waterway. The group alleged that the vessels had violated a naval blockade declared earlier this week, marking the latest escalation in regional tensions.
One of the tankers was reportedly carrying Saudi crude destined for India, while the other was transporting oil to China.
“We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, for violating the blockade decision issued by the armed forces,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said, according to Al Jazeera.
Thursday’s rally extended oil’s gains to a fifth straight session, with prices now up nearly 20% since tensions in the region escalated about two weeks ago.
“The fact that the Houthi rebels reportedly attacked two Saudi tankers near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen has increased concerns about further escalation,” Maya Westerlund, Strategy & Macro Research Intern, FICC Markets at Sweden’s SEB, said in a research note on Thursday.