Cairo became the stage for Africa’s bold energy ambitions last month as the Second African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) Forum took centre stage. Held alongside the 21st Congress and 55th Anniversary of the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA), the gathering underscored Africa’s determination to achieve universal electricity access and full grid integration by 2040. The theme, One Grid. One Market. One Vision., captured both the urgency and optimism driving the initiative.
The Forum drew together top energy leaders, regulators, financiers, and investors. Among the attendees were Eng. Gaber Desouki Mostafa, Chairman of Egypt’s Electricity Holding Company; Eng. Abel Didier Tella, Director General of APUA; Stephen Dihwa, Executive Director of the Southern African Power Pool; Henry Paul Batchi Baldeh, Director of Power Systems at the AfDB; and Dr Ahmed Mohena of Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity. Their collective presence signalled a continental commitment to breaking barriers in the energy sector.
Delivering a keynote on behalf of AU Commissioner Lerato Mataboge, Ms. Sara Elhag described AfSEM as “an initiative by Africa, for Africa,” promising a single, stable, and affordable grid. For the 500 million Africans still without electricity, she said, AfSEM is more than infrastructure—it is a beacon of hope for brighter futures.
Adopted in 2024 as a flagship of the AU’s Agenda 2063, AfSEM aims to connect national grids while also supporting mini-grid and off-grid systems to ensure inclusivity. Elhag emphasised that “energy is the heartbeat of development,” noting that AfSEM connects not just grids but livelihoods and opportunities across the continent.
A major highlight of the Forum was the unveiling of Phase III of the Continental Power System Master Plan, Africa’s first harmonised blueprint for investment in generation, transmission, and interconnection projects. Experts agreed that unified planning, combined with stable policies, would unlock billions in renewable energy financing.
AfSEM’s progress is closely tied to Africa’s broader development agenda. By linking directly with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the initiative is expected to drive industrial growth, lower electricity costs, and create a competitive environment for trade and investment.
Closing the event, Elhag issued a stirring call: “Let us light every home, power every school, and energise every industry. By 2040, Africa will stand united—one grid, one market, one vision.” The Cairo Forum, far from being a routine conference, may be remembered as the spark that ignited Africa’s energy revolution.
