EnergyNet seeks to promote economic development in emerging and developing economies in Africa through the promotion of energy services, principally in the power, gas and rural energy sectors.

Figures vary about the percentage of Africans who have access to electricity. But whether it is 35% or even 40%, this is unacceptably low, and a substantial impediment to development. The higher levels of access for populations in South Africa and North Africa gives an aggregate figure that masks the even lower levels of electricity access in many sub-Saharan countries. Strenuous efforts need to be made to bring electricity and other modern energy sources to Africa's population to initiate and sustain economic development. The status quo where over 60% of the population relies on biomass for cooking is unacceptable and unsustainable. Damage to peoples health cannot be countenanced, and damage to the environment could prove irreversible.
EnergyNet has worked for the past decade to encourage development of Africa's and gas sectors by promoting investment, business opportunities, and cooperation through producing international forums that gather decision makers from the public and private sectors.

A government/business interface

EnergyNet specializes in bringing government officials and private-sector executives together to promote investment and business opportunities in Africa's power, gas and rural energy sectors, which are essential for the continent's economic development. The principal event for this is the Africa Energy Forum. Smaller executive meetings focus of specific topics.

AEF — Africa Energy Forum — A rendezvous for the public and private sectors

The international power and gas industries and its supporting services meet annually with their African counterparts and government officials at the Africa Energy Forum. The forum, which has been running for ten years, attracted 2007 some 440 participants from 38 countries. In total, 33 African government ministers have attended. The accompanying exhibition and country investment desks support the forum's networking function, as does the MarketSite on the internet, where delegates can email each other to arrange meetings. They also have access to a directory of government officials and comprehensive data on energy projects.

EAA - Energy Access Africa

A large proportion of Africa's population has no access to modern source of energy, and the prospects of connecting them to a power grid in the near future are slim. The purpose of the EnergyAccessAfrica seminar, held in conjunction with the Africa Energy Forum, is to promote dialogue between the private, government and NGO sectors to understand past failures and establish a road map for the provision of critical energy services to rural and peri-urban communities. Continued failure cannot be an option.

Executive Meetings

EnergyNet executive meetings are designed to give government representatives and executives access to essential information through expert briefings and peer discussions. "Powering Africa" executive meetings are knowledge based meetings that provide an understanding of the issues and options.

Backing Africa's Development

EnergyNet's activities have been supported by organizations who are committed to encouraging Africa's development: • Absa Capital • Addax & Oryx • AES Corporation • Aggreko • Allen & Overy • Aldwych International • Alstom • Arthur J Gallagher • Barclays • Black & Veatch • Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft • Chadbourne & Parke • CIC Energy Corp. • Cinergy Global Power • CMS Cameron McKenna • Cummins Power Generation • DEG • Ecosecurities • Generation • EDF • Eskom • Fieldstone Group • FMO • Globeleq • Guascor • Investec • Lahmeyer • LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae • Manitoba Hydro International • Nedbank • NETGroup • Norton Rose • Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe • PA Consulting • PriceWaterhouseCoopers • Proparco • Shell • Shell Foundation • Siemens • Standard Bank • Thames Water • Trinity International • DFID • Vivendi • White & Case