Rwanda becomes the epicenter of Africa’s sustainable energy transition
Held at the Kigali Convention Centre from 4 to 6 November 2024, the first edition of the Africa Energy Expo (AEE24) marked a turning point in the continental energy landscape. The event brought together 2,658 participants — including 2,021 visitors, 552 delegates, and 85 exhibiting companies — showcasing Rwanda’s strategic ambition to lead Africa’s energy transformation.
With 173 VIPs, 564+ B2B meetings, and 3,375 trade and buyer visits, AEE24 succeeded in creating high-value networking and investment opportunities, underlining its impact as a flagship platform for energy integration in Africa.
Strong Focus on Renewable Energy and Grid Innovation
Decentralized and clean energy solutions dominate discussions
AEE24 placed renewable and clean energy at the heart of its agenda. More than 57% of participants identified these technologies as their primary area of interest. Key conference sessions emphasized decentralized renewable energy (DRE), on-grid financing, and the need to scale up last-mile rural electrification through innovative policies and funding models.
Another 47% of attendees were interested in energy management systems, transmission, and distribution infrastructure, reflecting Africa’s urgent need for a modern and resilient grid.
Conventional and backup power systems still attracted a share of attention (13%), especially in regions grappling with energy reliability and grid stability challenges.
Governance and Policy: Key Pillars of the Summit
Over 40 speakers and 30 certified sessions drive critical policy discussions
The Africa Energy Leadership Summit, held in parallel with the Expo, addressed the theme: “Investments, Integration, Infrastructure, and Governance to Fuel the Energy Transition.” It featured 30+ CPD-certified sessions and drew participation from top officials including:
- Olivier Kabera, Minister of State, Rwanda
- Ibrahim Matola, Minister of Energy, Malawi
- Abdellatif Bardach, President of ANRE, Morocco
- CEOs of ZESCO, ZESA, TANESCO, REG, and others
A remarkable 91% of delegates rated the content as “good or excellent,” with popular sessions focused on:
- Financing energy access
- Creating a single African electricity market
- Improving utility performance and reliability
🌐 International Reach and Stakeholder Diversity
120 countries represented, with a strong presence from the public and private sectors
Attendees came from 54 African nations and 66 other countries, with leading participation from Rwanda (69%), South Africa (22%), DRC (22%), Nigeria (6%), and UAE (5%). The Expo drew:
- 19% CEOs/Presidents
- 16% Managing Directors
- 9% senior government officials
Their motivations included networking (73%), discovering innovations (65%), and sourcing new suppliers (64%). Additionally, 8% finalized purchases during the Expo, highlighting the event’s commercial value.
Exhibitor Landscape and Business Opportunities
Majority were energy solution providers from Africa, China, and the Middle East
Among the 85 exhibitors, 57% were manufacturers or solution providers, followed by end users (13%), distributors (11%), and contractors (10%). Exhibitors hailed from China (43%), Rwanda (27%), South Africa (22%), and the UAE (5%).
Satisfaction scores were strong:
- Likelihood of return: 4.2/5
- Exhibitor satisfaction: 4.3/5
- Event importance: 4.3/5
Global Visibility and Marketing Impact
Over 51 million impressions and $27 million in PR value
The Expo’s communication campaign included:
- 110,241 engaged audience members
- 175,000 web users
- 5.6M Facebook/Instagram impressions
- 2.4M Google impressions
- 960K+ YouTube views
- 27 media interviews
- 738 social media mentions
This extensive media outreach generated $27.6 million in PR value and firmly positioned AEE24 as the new voice of energy and utilities in Africa.
Looking Ahead: Africa Energy Expo 2025
Following the success of its launch edition, the next Africa Energy Expo will take place from 25 to 27 November 2025, again in Kigali. It will join a global circuit of energy events that includes:
- Middle East Energy, Dubai – 7–9 April 2025
- Nigeria Energy, Lagos – 28–30 October 2025
- Egypt Energy, Cairo – 14–16 October 2025
The momentum from AEE24 is expected to expand partnerships, accelerate the clean energy transition, and reinforce Africa’s role in global energy dialogues.
