ECIC Acting CEO Opening Address @ African Energy Colloquium 2023

ECIC Acting CEO, Mandisi Nkuhlu, delivered the opening address on day 1 of the Africa Energy Colloquium which forms part of the Africa Energy Indaba.

In his opening address at the official start of the Africa Energy Colloquium, ECIC Acting CEO, Mandisi Nkuhlu highlighted the role played by ECIC in facilitating the funding of energy projects not only in South Africa, but on the rest of the continent.

A particular focus for ECIC is enabling South African businesses to expand their footprint outside of the country through the supply of their goods and services to renewable energy projects on the continent. He said countries have their own nationally determined energy objectives which reflect their unique circumstances and that the journey to including renewable energy in the energy mix will take time.

Mandisi highlighted that energy security is critical to successful economic development in Africa and that partnerships between developed and developing countries are vital to achieving this and will also serve to accelerate the use of renewable energy on the continent. He said ECIC works collaboratively with banks and DFIs in the funding of energy projects – both large and small. The collaboration between ECIC and the IDC in the form of the Intra-Africa Trade Facility is a prime example of an initiative designed to increase capacity through the provision of working capital. He encouraged business owners to proactively look for opportunities to expand their operations into other countries and stressed that ECIC supports projects that supply equipment or services to countries outside of South Africa.