Senior executives from leading power utilities and grid operators across Southern Africa have confirmed their participation in the Power Africa Today conference, scheduled to take place during African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town from October 12–16.
Their participation underscores the increasing emphasis on strengthening transmission infrastructure, modernising electricity grids and expanding regional power market integration as Africa seeks to align growing electricity generation with the networks required to deliver it efficiently.
South Africa’s Eskom will be represented by Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane, who will discuss the utility’s ongoing reforms after stabilising its generation fleet following years of electricity shortages. Eskom has recorded more than 340 consecutive days without load-shedding and achieved an energy availability factor of 98.9% during the 2025/26 financial year.
Marokane is expected to provide updates on Eskom’s restructuring programme, which includes separating its transmission operations into an independent system operator under the government’s unbundling strategy.
Also representing Eskom will be Velaphi Ntuli, Chief Nuclear Officer at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. Koeberg, the continent’s only operational nuclear power plant, secured 20-year operating licence extensions for its two reactors in 2024 and 2025, allowing it to continue supplying 1,860 MW of baseload electricity through 2045.
With South Africa’s updated Integrated Resource Plan targeting an additional 5,200 MW of nuclear generation, Ntuli is expected to highlight the role of nuclear energy in strengthening long-term grid reliability.
Uganda will be represented by Richard Matsiko, Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). Although the country has increased installed generation capacity from 850 MW in 2014 to more than 2,050 MW, transmission infrastructure has struggled to keep pace.
UETCL is addressing this challenge through the Amari Power Transmission Project, a $50 million initiative developed in partnership with UK-based Gridworks, which became Africa’s first independently financed transmission project to enter construction in early 2026. The utility is also advancing the 298-kilometre Uganda–Tanzania transmission interconnector, with construction expected to commence during the 2026/27 period.
From Zambia, ZESCO Managing Director Justin Loongo will discuss the country’s efforts to modernise its electricity sector. ZESCO has introduced open-access transmission regulations allowing private generators to transport electricity through its network while implementing a multi-year tariff framework to provide greater certainty for investors.
The utility is targeting the addition of 1,000 MW of solar capacity by the end of 2026 to reduce dependence on hydropower. In May 2026, ZESCO also signed a memorandum of understanding with Stanbic Bank and GreenCo Power Services to jointly develop renewable energy projects for commercial and industrial customers.
Regional electricity integration will also feature prominently, with Stephen Dihwa, Executive Director of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) Coordination Centre, joining the conference.
SAPP currently coordinates electricity planning, system operations and cross-border power trading among 12 Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, nine of which are already interconnected through the regional grid.
In February 2026, SAPP and the East Africa Power Pool signed an agreement to harmonise regional electricity trading rules, while a World Bank-supported technical assistance programme continues to facilitate the expansion of Africa’s regional electricity market.
Commenting on the event, African Energy Chamber Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk said stronger collaboration between utilities, governments, investors and technology providers would be essential to expanding electricity access and supporting Africa’s industrialisation.
He noted that Power Africa Today provides a platform for stakeholders to develop practical solutions aimed at strengthening interconnected electricity markets across the continent.
The conference will bring together policymakers, utilities, financiers and project developers to discuss the regulatory, financial and infrastructure requirements needed to accelerate Africa’s power sector development as part of African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town.