By Namibia will host a major African energy summit in Windhoek this October, organizers said, as the continent seeks to attract billions of dollars in investment to close a power gap they say costs Africa $130 billion a year.
The International African Energy, Oil and Gas Summit (IAEOGS) 2026 will run from October 20 to 24 at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek, according to a statement issued by the event’s organizing committee on August 26.
The gathering will bring together government ministers, energy companies, financiers and regulators to discuss investment in Africa’s oil, gas and renewable energy sectors, the organizers said.
The summit was originally planned for Doha, Qatar, but organizers said they moved it to Windhoek to reflect Namibia’s emergence as an energy investment destination, citing offshore oil discoveries in the country’s Orange Basin.
More than 600 million people in Africa lack access to electricity, and over 900 million rely on biomass fuels such as charcoal and wood for cooking, according to data from the International Energy Agency cited by the organizers.
Unreliable power grids and fragmented infrastructure cost the continent an estimated $130 billion in lost economic output annually, the organizers said, while less than 3% of global energy investment currently flows to Africa.
The summit is co-hosted by the Namibia University of Science and Technology, alongside partners including the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa and the Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria.
Discussion topics will include efforts to mobilize cross-border capital, the use of carbon markets, and access to the newly established $5 billion African Energy Bank.
Sessions will also address regulatory frameworks aimed at reducing investment risk and strengthening land governance protections for energy infrastructure projects.
Talks are expected to cover how the African Continental Free Trade Area could be used to improve the flow of oil, gas and liquefied natural gas between major producers such as Nigeria and newer entrants such as Namibia.
Namibia has drawn international attention in recent years after a series of offshore oil discoveries in the Orange Basin, off the country’s southern coast. Organizers of the summit put the basin’s estimated reserves at 11 billion barrels, though the figure has not been independently verified.
Major energy companies including TotalEnergies and Shell have carried out exploration drilling off Namibia’s coast since 2022, though the country has yet to begin commercial oil production.
The African Energy Bank, backed by the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization and the African Export-Import Bank, was established to help finance oil, gas and energy infrastructure projects across the continent, with an initial capitalization target of $5 billion.
Africa’s population is projected to nearly double to 2.5 billion by 2050, according to United Nations estimates, a trend organizers said underscores the urgency of expanding energy access.
The summit’s organizers, in their statement, said the event would provide “direct access to decision-makers driving the continent’s next ten years of growth” by connecting investors with regulatory officials and project developers.
Registration, exhibition space and sponsorship opportunities for the summit are being handled through the event’s official portal, according to the organizing committee. Inquiries are being directed to Prudence Ramotso, the event’s group head of events and international affairs.
Summit Highlights & Pillars
De-Risking Capital: Sessions dedicated to navigating the regulatory calculus and strengthening land governance to protect foreign and local infrastructure investments.
Financing the Future: High-level policy roundtables on mobilizing cross-border capital, utilizing carbon markets, and tapping into the newly formed $5 billion African Energy Bank.
Regional Free Trade: Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to enhance energy, oil, gas, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply stability between heavyweights like Nigeria and emerging frontiers like Namibia.
Elite Networking: B2B and B2G matchmaking platforms connecting government ministers, independent refineries, technology operators, and institutional financiers.
African Energy World, African Energy Vault Ltd, African Peace Magazine UK, Transcontinental University USA and African Energy Academy ltd.
This edition is convened in partnership, the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST; ILLH), as Co-host, the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), and CRG Research & Consulting Ltd (CRG).
Core Event Details
Dates: October 20 – 24, 2026
Venue: Hilton Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia
Theme: Igniting Africa’s Energy and Land Governance Future
Co-Hosts & Strategic Partners: Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), the Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN), African Energy World, African Energy Vault Limited, Transcontinental University USA and African Energy Academy limited.
