The Africa Energy Week 2026 will open on the 13th in Cape Town, South Africa. The attendees called on African countries to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, jointly address global geopolitical tensions and energy market fluctuations, and ensure sufficient and affordable energy supply. The theme of this year's Africa Energy Week is "Investing in African Energy: Expanding Affordable and Adequate Energy Supply", attracting senior officials from multiple energy departments and over 10000 representatives from more than 1500 companies worldwide.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Petroleum Resources of South Africa, Phimzile Mgesina, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, stating that the current global situation highlights the necessity of building a more integrated and resilient African energy system. The ongoing spillover effects of conflicts in the Middle East have pushed up global fuel prices and living costs. African leaders need to take decisive action, both to strengthen their own energy sector construction and to jointly promote the establishment of a more integrated, resilient, and autonomous African energy system. The current geopolitical situation further highlights the strategic importance of Africa in the global oil and gas market.

Senegal's Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Haji Abdulrahman Diouf, called on African countries to strengthen regional energy cooperation and promote the establishment of an interconnected energy system at the opening ceremony. He believes that Africa has abundant energy resources, but it must develop a suitable energy model to ensure that energy supply can support economic transformation. Africa needs to expand the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, develop efficient and reliable modern power systems and energy storage solutions, while ensuring energy security and supporting industrial development.

The Africa Energy Week was first held in 2021, aiming to provide a platform for communication on issues such as energy investment, market access, and industrial development, bringing together stakeholders from all walks of life to jointly explore the future direction of energy development in Africa. In addition to the energy exhibition, the 2026 Africa Energy Week will also hold a series of exchange activities covering energy policies, oil and gas development, power construction, energy financing, and technological innovation.Editor/Gong Ziwei