Level 1 is where Enlit Africa goes deep for decision-makers: the Enlit keynote plus the Strategise and Innovate stages, where the market argument gets made in public. Government leaders, utility chiefs, regulators, financiers and technology leaders set out what it will take to deliver Africa's power transition.
The show floor is where you see the solutions. Level 1 is where the sector debates the policy, investment and technology decisions behind them. In 2026, the keynote took place in the Ballroom on the first floor of the CTICC, with the Strategise and Innovate stages running alongside it across all three days.
The opening policy and industry agenda, with government, utility and technology leaders on one stage.
See the 2026 keynote Conference stageThe policy, investment and infrastructure decisions that determine whether Africa's power transition is deliverable.
See the 2026 Strategise Stage Conference stageThe technologies and operational approaches that convert strategy into system performance.
See the 2026 Innovate StageKeynote Day 1 set a clear direction: Africa's energy future will be determined by system reform and consistent delivery, not by picking a single "breakthrough" technology.
The strongest policy signal was South Africa's focus on building energy security by design: generation adequacy, transmission expansion, stronger distribution performance, market reform and institutional capability working together to improve reliability. Transmission emerged as the binding constraint, and smart metering was highlighted as a practical lever for revenue protection, demand management and better operational data.
The conversation on governance noted Eskom's achievement of 365 days without load shedding as a sign of structural recovery, and put forward a strategic programme management office, building on the NECOM model, to keep reform on track once the crisis pressure eases.
Thank you to Huawei, Diamond Sponsor and Day One Keynote Sponsor of Enlit Africa 2026.
Master of Ceremonies: Enkromelle Andrew. Ballroom, first floor, CTICC.
Top keynote speakers, Day 1
Day 2 made the case that resilience cannot be built while water and energy are planned and governed in silos. The conclusion was direct: coordinated action is now the bottleneck, not expertise, capital or available solutions.
Speakers included Sabine Dall'Omo (CEO, Siemens South Africa), Ramateu Monyokolo (Chairperson, AWSISA and Rand Water), JP van der Merwe (Chief Foreign Direct Investment Officer, Wesgro), Deerosh Maharaj (Executive Head: Energy, Infrastructure & Mining, Standard Bank Business & Commercial Banking) and Darshana Myronidis (Global Group Director of Sustainability, Virgin Group).
Session titles, speakers and roles as listed in the Enlit Africa 2026 programme and 2026 post-event report.
The policy, investment and infrastructure decisions that determine whether Africa's power transition is deliverable.
The programme kept returning to transmission constraints, distribution financing gaps and the practical reality of market reform. Grid expansion was framed as the primary enabler of private generation, renewables integration and regional power trade. Sessions also tackled prosumers and microgrids, and the tariff redesign needed to manage bi-directional flows without destabilising utilities.
2026 sessions included
The technologies and operational approaches that convert strategy into system performance.
Resilience was treated as a combination of grid modernisation, automation, cyber security and flexibility tools, with storage highlighted as a core system enabler. Digital grids, smart metering and AI-driven forecasting featured heavily, with the focus on turning operational data into better planning and faster fault response. Case studies unpacked project delivery and bankability, and the nuclear sessions centred on readiness: legal frameworks, institutional capacity and financing.
2026 sessions included
Enlit Africa 2027 takes place on 11–13 May 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa.
The Enlit keynote opens the conversation on Level 1, putting government, utility, finance and technology leaders on one stage.
The Strategise and Innovate stages return on Level 1, with the policy, investment and technology depth decision-makers come for.
The Enlit Africa 2027 programme overview lands in November 2026. Pre-register now to be first to hear when it's published.
Pre-register for Enlit Africa 2027 and we'll let you know as soon as the keynote and conference programme is published.
The keynote is the moment the whole event gathers in one room. Sponsoring it puts your brand, and your leadership, at the centre of the agenda-setting conversation for Africa's power, energy and water sector.
In 2026, Huawei was Diamond Sponsor and Day One Keynote Sponsor, with Jacky Wang delivering the keynote address on the evolution of digital power and joining the AI panel.
Sponsor the keynoteEnlit Africa 2027, 11–13 May, Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa. Pre-register to attend, put your brand on the keynote stage, or apply to share your expertise from the stage.
Enlit Africa, connects energy industry professionals and organisations to information and each other in a carefully curated live and online environment. Its purpose, to help shape Africa's Just Energy Transition and recognised as the continental Africa edition of the global Enlit series. www.enlitworld.com
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