With South Africa assuming the presidency of the G20 in 2025, Africa has a unique opportunity to advance an energy agenda which prioritizes its dual goals of enhancing energy security while driving an inclusive energy transition. At the upcoming G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum – hosted by the African Energy Chamber on November 21 in Johannesburg – a plenary session on Defining Pragmatic Policies for Energy Addition in Africa will explore the role balanced and pragmatic policies play in not only reflecting the continent’s energy realities but advancing its development priorities.
The plenary session will feature speakers from the policy, power and diplomatic landscapes. These include Olu Verheijen, Special Advisor to the Nigerian President on Energy; Bryce Dustman, Global Managing Partner at Stryk Global Diplomacy; and Alfred Seema, Group Executive: Strategic Delivery, Eskom. Topics include balancing Africa’s energy priorities; effective risk mitigation strategies; and how strategic partnerships can accelerate oil and gas development and industrialization. By reviewing the role and impact of pragmatic policies in Africa, the session will position energy addition as a catalyst for growth across the continent.
Africa’s need for energy security cannot be overstated. With over 600 million people currently living without access to electricity and over 900 million people living without access to clean cooking solutions, the need for accelerated investment in both the power and broader energy sectors has become increasingly apparent. Population growth and increased economic activity is expected to significantly increase energy demand, with the demand for refined petroleum products alone set to reach 6 million barrels per day by 2040. Concurrently, Africa – which contributes less than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions – faces some of the worst impacts of climate change, underscoring the need for a coordinated, global approach to addressing the climate crisis.
Presently, global energy policies largely reflect the realities of developed nations, with legislation enticing a rapid shift towards renewable energy solutions and the end to fossil fuel usage. However, in Africa, this approach will bring significant implications to a continent whose priorities are electrifying and industrializing its nations. The upcoming G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum offers a platform for global and African leaders to reassess policies that balance energy security, affordability and sustainability. The forum will explore what policy tools can harmonize these often-competing priorities across different African contexts, forging strategies and recommendations for strengthening investment in oil and gas while accelerating renewable energy uptake.
The forum comes as many nations across the continent implement bold policies to attract investment and bolster energy development. From Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (2021) to Angola’s Incremental Production Decree to Namibia’s National Upstream Local Content Policy, strengthened oil regulation is improving the operating environment for global players. The continent has also seen a rise in gas-focused policies, with countries such as the Republic of Congo, Ghana and Tanzania implementing Gas Master Plans to support development. These policies reflect a shift towards context-specific approaches that prioritize jobs, growth and energy stability. Policy has also served as the linchpin for integrated renewable energy investments. South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), for example, is expected to become a catalyst for integrated energy development in the country. The latest draft – published in 2025 – targets 105 GW of new power capacity, including 5.2 GW of nuclear, 34 GW of onshore wind, 25 GW of solar among other solutions, showcasing how pragmatic and balanced energy policies can support sustainable investment.
Building on these milestones, the G20 Forum will explore what regulatory and fiscal reforms must African governments adopt to create the policy environment that is necessary to unlock substantial private capital while supporting local development. The forum will also delve into the impact reform play in addressing currency risk mitigation and how the G20 can support frameworks that overcomes challenges associated with accessing hard-currency in volatile market. As Africa pursues both an energy transition and enhanced energy security, policy will be a cornerstone of realizing these goals.
“Africa’s energy future depends on policies that make sense for Africans. We cannot copy-paste solutions from other regions. Our focus must be on creating jobs, ensuring energy security and using our oil, gas and renewable energy resources to industrialize our economies. Pragmatic, market-driven reforms are what will attract investment, protect consumers and build the foundation for sustainable growth,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
