Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals is set to return in May as organisers unveil an expansive programme for the Enlit Africa 2026, which will bring together more than 280 speakers and thousands of industry participants in Cape Town.
The three-day event will take place from May 19–21 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where organisers expect over 7,200 attendees and more than 250 exhibitors from across the continent’s energy and water sectors.
Organisers say the conference will feature eight specialised tracks, with a strong focus on energy transition, investment and infrastructure development across Africa.
Ghana’s nuclear programme featured
One of the notable additions to this year’s programme is a dedicated African Nuclear 2.0 session that will examine the shift from planning to execution in nuclear power development across the continent.
The session will spotlight progress at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, whose two units have received a 20-year operating life extension that will keep the facility running until 2044 and 2045 respectively.
The discussion will also highlight Ghana’s nuclear power ambitions, with the country currently progressing to Phase 3 of its nuclear programme, where it is evaluating technology bids from vendors in the United States, China and Russia.
Regional energy planning will also be discussed, including the target of building 10 gigawatts of nuclear capacity under the West African Power Pool.
Business breakfast with Bruce Whitfield
The programme will open with a keynote address from award-winning business journalist and author Bruce Whitfield, who will headline the Project & Investment Network Business Breakfast on May 19.
The breakfast event will mark the start of three days of policy discussions, investment matchmaking and technical workshops designed to facilitate energy and water infrastructure development across the continent.
Focus on grids, AI and private investment
Beyond nuclear energy, the conference will explore new models for financing and expanding Africa’s power infrastructure.
A new session on Independent Transmission Projects will examine how private capital can help address grid bottlenecks, drawing lessons from international examples such as Power Grid Corporation of India.
Another session will explore the use of artificial intelligence in electricity systems, including real-time analytics and predictive maintenance technologies that are already being deployed by African utilities.
Participants will also take part in generation masterclasses covering gas-to-power, hydropower, hydrogen, nuclear energy and clean coal technologies.
Water security and infrastructure investment
Running alongside the main conference will be Water Security Africa, a platform focused on improving water management across the continent.
Country case studies will include Namibia’s long-running potable water reuse programme, Uganda’s efforts to reduce non-revenue water losses, and Cape Town’s response strategies following the city’s “Day Zero” water crisis.
Corporate water stewardship initiatives will also be discussed by companies including Harmony Gold, Heineken, Mediclinic, and Growthpoint Properties.
Industry networking and project financing
Another key platform at the event is the Project & Investment Network, which connects project developers with investors, development finance institutions and African utility leaders.
Organisers say the platform has facilitated more than $3 billion in project pitches over the past two years.
Other co-located forums will include the Utility CEO Forum, which will bring together more than 35 power utility leaders for closed-door discussions on sector reforms and financial sustainability, as well as a Municipal Forum focusing on electricity distribution and revenue challenges faced by South African municipalities.
The conference will conclude with technical site visits, including tours of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and a desalination plant at the V&A Waterfront.
