Leaders from Africa’s financial, telecommunications and insurance industries have been confirmed as speakers at the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum, hosted by the African Energy Chamber (AEC), in Johannesburg on November 21. The lineup features Dele Kuti, Global Head of Energy and Infrastructure at Standard Bank; Simon Calikari, CEO of Vodacom Mozambique, and Lida Preyma, Founder and CEO of Cēlendaire Capital.
Standard Bank has strengthened its role as a major financier of energy and infrastructure projects across Africa, renewing its Sustainable Finance Goals to mobilize more than R450 billion by 2028, with R74.3 billion set to be financed in 2024 alone. The bank has supported major energy developments, including the 400MW Overberg Wind Farm in South Africa, the country’s largest single commercial wind project, the Dias Wind Farm in Namibia, where it acted as lead arranger for the NAD1.2 billion facility, the 140MW Ishwati Wind Farm, which uses an innovative energy aggregator model, and the 155MW Seriti Green wind farm in Mpumalanga. Beyond project finance, Standard Bank has provided strategic debt and equity solutions to businesses. This includes a $130 million facility for Talitha to strengthen its capital structure and support its transition into underground mining, and a R7 billion facility for Murillo Energy to advance its renewable energy pipeline, including battery storage systems and projects under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Producer Procurement Programme.
Under Karari’s leadership, Vodacom Mozambique has expanded its connectivity and technology infrastructure across the country. In 2024, the company invested $25 million in a Tier 3 carrier-neutral data center in Matra to provide direct access to the 2Africa submarine cable and serve as a secure and reliable hub for digital services. Vodacom is accelerating its 5G rollout and expanding its rural network, targeting up to 75% population coverage by 2025. The partnership with Aritel Africa in the UK and Orange in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will support the deployment of network sharing and solar base stations to improve operational efficiency and foster digital inclusion. The company has also launched affordable devices such as Digit 4G Z1 to expand access to digital services.
Cēlendaire Capital brings strategic investment expertise to Africa’s emerging markets, with a focus on capital deployment and innovative financing solutions that enable access to growth opportunities across technology, energy and infrastructure sectors. Although the company has not disclosed details of the project, its participation in the forum highlights the company’s role in driving sustainable investments and strategic partnerships across Africa.
“Standard Bank, Vodacom Mozambique and Serendare Capital’s presence at the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum demonstrates the incredible depth of their expertise in driving Africa’s growth across finance, infrastructure and technology. This forum is more than just a discussion, it is a platform to unlock strategic investment, accelerate innovation and build Africa’s economic future,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.
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