At the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum in Johannesburg, hosted by the African Energy Chamber, African policymakers, financiers and energy executives issued a unified call to promote infrastructure-led development, diversifying energy systems and accelerating investment flows. The series of announcements comes ahead of the Africa Investment in Energy (IAE) Summit to be held in Paris on April 22-23, 2026, with many of the same stakeholders expected to translate these messages into concrete deals and partnerships.
Throughout multiple sessions, speakers emphasized that Africa’s energy transition cannot proceed without significant financing, industrial capacity acquisition, and reliable transport and power networks. The Johannesburg forum served as a stage for more detailed investment discussions expected in Paris.
South Africa accelerates refinery revival and gas diversification
The South African government has reiterated its intention to rebuild refining capacity under the newly established South African National Petroleum Corporation. With the majority of the country’s refineries idle, South Africa’s Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe believes reviving them is central to energy security, economic revitalization and regional fuel stability.
At the same time, officials confirmed that they will fast-track the gas strategy, which includes LNG import terminals, pipeline renovations, and accelerating approvals. Declining imports from Mozambique have increased pressure to find alternative gas sources and develop domestic reserves. These developments will form a key part of South Africa’s investment roadshow at the IAE Summit. At the IAE Summit, governments and private companies aim to attract capital for LNG, pipelines and downstream restructuring.
Additionally, the country’s Minister of Power and Energy, Kgoshyensho Ramogopa, reinforced broader calls for an investment model that treats African countries as equal partners rather than passive beneficiaries. He stressed that Africa’s energy future depends on building transmission capacity to enable cross-border trade and industrial growth. By advocating for added value for critical minerals, the Minister stressed that this transition is about creating manufacturing capacity and not deepening mining patterns that have historically limited Africa’s development.
Clean cooking, refining and LPG supply come under renewed scrutiny
Executives highlighted structural weaknesses in the LPG supply chain, from inadequate storage and import capacity to aging rail infrastructure. To prevent another supply shock, calls were made to streamline permitting, reconfigure rail lines and rehabilitate dormant refineries. Meanwhile, state-owned entities including PetroSA have outlined plans to restore processing capacity and stabilize the domestic market. Private operators, including Petredec, noted continued growth in demand across East and Southern Africa and called for reforms to improve terminal access, transport efficiency and market transparency.
These issues are long-standing but increasingly urgent and are expected to feature prominently in Paris, where project developers will seek partners for terminal expansions, rail renovations and midstream infrastructure.
Capital mobilization and infrastructure constraints
Speakers stressed that Africa cannot close its infrastructure gap with concessional loans and aid alone. Pension funds, government investors and African financial institutions were asked to play a greater role in financing energy, manufacturing and logistics projects. Several panelists called for a predictable regulatory environment and project preparation pipeline that allows institutional investors to participate at scale. These themes are directly aligned with the IAE Summit’s goals of accelerating viable deals and mobilizing both African and international capital.
Forum participants cited unreliable power grids, bottlenecked ports, aging railways and permitting delays as barriers to investment. Power-intensive sectors such as mining, manufacturing, green hydrogen and data centers were singled out as direct victims of grid instability. With dozens of grid and transmission equipment upgrade projects scheduled for investment rounds between 2025 and 2027, Paris is expected to serve as a matching platform between African utilities, EPC companies and financial institutions.
Positioning Paris: The continental investment agenda
Taken together, the announcements in Johannesburg were a clear prelude to the IAE Summit in Paris, where hydrocarbon gas and refining will be positioned as central to energy security and industrial growth across the continent. Meanwhile, it was pointed out that the clean cooking and LPG markets require infrastructure expansion and regulatory reform, while domestic capital needs to complement international investment to realize large-scale projects. Consideration will also be given to how grid, transport and permitting constraints need to be resolved to attract long-term financing.
As African delegations prepare for Paris, the momentum generated at the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum signals a shift toward transaction-focused engagement, with governments and businesses seeking partnerships to advance infrastructure, stabilize energy systems, and accelerate economic growth across the continent.
IAE 2026 is a special forum aimed at connecting African energy markets with global investors and will serve as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to Africa Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22-23, 2026 in Paris, the event will offer participants two days of in-depth interaction with industry experts, project developers, investors and policy makers. For more information, please visit www.invest-africa-energy.com. To become a sponsor or register as a representative, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
