Powering Africa Summit Signals Shift to Project Delivery, Increased US Investment
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Powering Africa Summit opened this week with a renewed focus on tangible results, as leaders from the United States and Africa emphasized the need for commercially viable projects and deeper investment ties to expand energy access across the continent. The summit, which began on March 21, 2026, signaled a move away from broad discussions toward concrete action, according to attendees.
Uganda’s Minister of Energy & Mineral Development, Ruth Ssentamu, underscored the critical link between energy access and economic growth. “We must strive to eliminate energy poverty, as energy access is a foundation of human and economic development,” she stated. Ssentamu also urged stakeholders to move “away from power points to power plants,” emphasizing the importance of translating plans into operational infrastructure.
The shift in focus was echoed by Adam Cortese, CEO of Sun Africa, a key sponsor of the summit. Cortese framed energy as “the lifeblood that connects” economic growth, security, and prosperity for both Africa and the United States. He highlighted ongoing projects as examples of successful US-Africa collaboration, describing them as “arteries of progress, delivering electricity to remote areas, powering factories, and supporting transportation networks.”
Sun Africa also announced a new initiative in Liberia, aiming to deliver up to 500 megawatts of peak solar generation, 200 megawatt hours of battery storage, and infrastructure to support the mining sector. Cortese explained the project would help “secure supply chains that benefitted US industries.”
The Democratic Republic of the Congo also positioned itself as a key player in the global energy transition. Minister of State for Hydrocarbons, Acacia Mbongo, highlighted the DRC’s strategic importance regarding oil, natural gas, and critical minerals, inviting US companies to invest in exploration, development, infrastructure, and value chains.
Underpinning the calls for increased investment, John Jovanovic, president & chairman of the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM), announced the bank is expanding its financial engagement across Sub-Saharan Africa. “Today, we are open for business in nearly all of the 49 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa,” Jovanovic said, noting that EXIM has “doubled the amount of financing that has gone to the continent.” He emphasized the foundational importance of energy and supply chains for both countries and households.
The overarching message from the Powering Africa Summit was clear: the US-Africa energy partnership is entering a new phase, prioritizing project delivery and commercial viability over preliminary discussions.
