The 2026 African Energy Week (AEW) is underway in Cape Town, South Africa, gathering stakeholders to discuss strategies for reliable and affordable energy access. South African Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Phumzile Mgcina, opened the event by stressing the need for a more integrated and autonomous African energy system to counter global geopolitical disruptions. The forum, running through Friday under the theme "Investing in African Energy," attracts over 10,000 delegates, 300 government officials, and 1,500 companies. Key discussions revolve around diversifying energy sources and strengthening intra-African trade. Senegalese Minister of Energy and Petroleum, El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf, echoed the call for regional cooperation, emphasizing that African nations must develop their own energy models to drive industrial growth and industrial transformation, while welcoming long-term international partnerships.