The African Energy Chamber (AEC) participated in the Powering Possibility event on June 23 in Johannesburg, South Africa hosted by the African Youth Energy Network (AYEN) in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE). Under the theme Unlocking Capital for Youth Innovation the event convened government leaders, industry stakeholders, entrepreneurs and young innovators to explore solutions for expanding access to finance and accelerating youth participation in Africa’s energy future.
Opening the event, Acting Deputy Director-General of the Department of Electricity and Energy, Mthokozisi Mpofu, emphasized the importance of empowering young people as the future of the energy sector. Mpofu reflected on the challenges facing young people, particularly unemployment, and highlighted the critical role entrepreneurship can play in creating economic opportunities.
As Africa advances it’s just energy transition agenda, Mpofu stressed that youth participation must remain at the center of policy and investment decisions. He challenged stakeholders to address a defining question: how can Africa accelerate youth innovation while ensuring meaningful participation by young people in the continent’s energy transformation?
Delivering keynote remarks, South African Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted the opportunities that can emerge from the continent’s energy challenges. He noted that every crisis presents an opportunity for innovation and called for the development of a diversified energy mix capable of supporting economic growth and industrial expansion.
He emphasized that South Africa remains the most industrialized economy on the continent and highlighted the growing importance of data centres and artificial intelligence in shaping the future economy. Reliable and abundant energy, he explained, will be essential to supporting these technologies and unlocking future growth opportunities.
The Minister also encouraged young entrepreneurs to develop scalable solutions that address Africa’s energy access challenges, emphasizing that innovative ideas require both funding and commercial viability to achieve lasting impact.
“Young people may already be sitting on technologies that can help expand access to electricity,” he noted, adding that entrepreneurs should seize opportunities within the energy sector to build sustainable businesses while contributing to national development objectives.
Industry perspectives were provided by Tokologo Phetla, CEO of Commodore Industries, who discussed the challenges facing emerging renewable energy companies. Phetla highlighted concerns around financing constraints and the difficulties smaller businesses face when competing against larger market participants with greater access to capital.
Referencing experiences within South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), Phetla explained that project pricing and financing challenges are creating barriers for smaller and youth-led companies seeking to enter the market. He stressed the need for a more inclusive environment that enables emerging businesses to compete and grow.
Throughout the event, a consistent message emerged: unlocking capital remains one of the most significant barriers to youth innovation in Africa’s energy sector. Participants called for stronger collaboration between government, financial institutions, industry leaders and development partners to establish financing mechanisms that support young entrepreneurs and accelerate the commercialization of innovative energy solutions.
Representing the African Energy Chamber were Chuma Nobanda, Community Manager; Gradie Mbono, Communications and Media Liaison; and Alexey Khromov, Relationship manager for the CIS Region. As part of the Chamber’s commitment to empowering the next generation of energy leaders, Nobanda and Khromov served as judges for the event’s entrepreneurial pitch competition, which showcased innovative business ideas from young entrepreneurs seeking to address challenges across the energy sector.
The competition culminated in the selection of three winning entrepreneurs. The first-place winner received R15,000, while the second- and third-place winners were awarded R10,000 and R5,000 respectively. The initiative formed part of the Chamber’s broader efforts to support youth entrepreneurship and help bridge the gap between innovation and access to capital.
“For us at the African Energy Chamber, it is important to create pathways for young Africans to access funding, mentorship and market opportunities that will in turn help grow energy access on the continent. Through initiatives such as the entrepreneurial pitch competition and ongoing engagement with youth-focused platforms, the Chamber remains committed to fostering the next generation of African energy leaders,” said Mbono said.
As Africa seeks to expand energy access, drive industrialization and strengthen energy security, empowering young innovators will be essential to delivering the solutions needed to power the continent’s future.
