GE Vernova Inc. demonstrated its commitment to the continent’s economic transformation at the Africa Energy Forum, held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 17 June 2026

Aligning with the event’s central theme, ‘Building Africa's industrialized Future’, the company showcased a comprehensive portfolio of advanced technologies. These innovations are engineered to translate large-scale infrastructure ambitions into tangible operational realities, thereby accelerating Africa's industrialisation and long-term economic growth.

GE Vernova maintains that achieving success in this new industrial era requires a strictly holistic approach, bridging the existing gap between power generation and industrial application. The company aims to enable African industries to scale with absolute precision by integrating sustainable energy generation, advanced electrification systems, and sophisticated digital decarbonisation tools. This integrated strategy ensures that energy provision remains a reliable, affordable, and sustainable foundation for economic transformation.

A key focal point was demonstrating how digital intelligence is accelerating the energy transition. In North Africa, the Tunisian state utility, STEG, identified a strategic opportunity to evaluate GE Vernova's CERius platform. This sophisticated solution integrates artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and digital twin technology to create a comprehensive digital framework for emissions management. By transitioning from hardware-heavy monitoring towards a streamlined, software-driven framework, STEG is gaining the real-time, auditable emissions data critical for aligning with stringent international standards.

This innovative digital approach has undergone validation at the Sousse B power plant, confirming its operational effectiveness. Beyond achieving a high degree of consistency in emissions monitoring, STEG anticipates this software-driven shift will reduce related investment and maintenance costs by up to fifty per cent. By enhancing traceability, this initiative directly supports Tunisia's ambitious electricity export strategy to Europe. It proves compliance with the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and demonstrates that data-driven decarbonisation is a powerful catalyst for regional economic growth.

Alongside digital innovation, GE Vernova strongly emphasised that as the African continent accelerates its energy transition, the focus must shift from merely adding capacity to confirming that grid infrastructure is inherently stable and resilient. To support this argument, the company released a new whitepaper entitled, “Spain's 2025 Blackout Experience: Grid Firming Needs for Developing Power Systems with High-Renewable Penetration”. The paper's core recommendation is that future grids must be engineered specifically for fundamental resilience, rather than just basic energy delivery.

GE Vernova encourages African nations to prioritise grid stability from the outset. By applying lessons learned from the Iberian Peninsula, developing power systems can become as reliable as they are sustainable. The company advocates for integrating flexible, grid-forming technologies, such as aeroderivative gas turbines, synchronous condensers, and advanced power electronics. By explicitly valuing grid-support services, Africa can leapfrog traditional infrastructure hurdles. Strategic guidance is further mapped out in another whitepaper, “Ensuring Power System Stability in an Evolving Electrical Grid”.

Joseph Anis, president and CEO of GE Vernova's Gas Power business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, stated, "Building Africa's industrial future starts with getting the fundamentals right: power that is reliable, sustainable, and ready to scale. A modern, stable grid is the backbone of this vision. Our goal is to provide a complete toolkit - from the AI that manages decarbonization to the grid technology that keeps the system stable - and to partner with African leaders to make that future a reality."

Building upon over 125 years of collaboration across the continent, GE Vernova continues to support Africa's energy evolution. The business is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and supported by approximately 85,000 employees globally, and brings over 130 years of broader experience to tackling global challenges. Through its deep-rooted continental presence, the purpose-built global energy company remains actively committed to fostering the technical self-sufficiency required to power the next generation of industrial growth.

Wacker Neuson says demand for compact excavators is increasing across Africa as industries seek versatile, efficient and sustainable equipment capable of operating in diverse and challenging environments

According to Glenn Theron, Wacker Neuson sales manager, compact excavators are becoming essential tools for the agriculture, forestry, construction and mining sectors across the whole region.

“We have seen a distinct surge in demand for compact excavators on the African continent which can be attributed to a combination of factors,” he said.

“Foremost is their adaptability, enabling them to support diverse industries with productivity and sustainability.”

The company attributes the growth to rising infrastructure development, mechanised agriculture, sustainable resource extraction and the need for efficient machinery in applications where larger equipment is impractical.

The ability to equip a single machine with multiple attachments is also driving adoption, allowing operators to perform a wide range of tasks while maximising productivity and efficiency.

Wacker Neuson’s compact excavators can be fitted with attachments including buckets, augers, grapples, hydraulic breakers, winches and brush mulchers, supporting applications ranging from trenching and land preparation to materials handling and vegetation clearing.

“This synergy of innovations firmly position our excavators as indispensable multitool carriers across South and sub-Saharan Africa’s agriculture, forestry, construction and mining sectors,” Theron said.

The company also highlighted the role of sustainability in its product strategy, particularly through its electric EZ17e excavator.

“Tailored for urban, indoor, and underground mining projects where environmental and safety regulations are stringent, the future-oriented EZ17e aligns with the global shift toward sustainable practices, ensuring compliance with evolving standards across our four focus sectors,” said Theron.

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In a significant achievement, Namibian plant hire and earthmoving equipment company Windhoek Renovations Plant Hire (WR) has received Namibia’s first-ever Liebherr TA 230 articulated dump truck (ADT)

The unit was handed over on 8 April 2026, marking WR’s strategic move towards expanding its Liebherr ADT fleet offering.

Alex Wirtz, technical service and sales manager at Windhoek Renovations Plant Hire, and Tendayi Kudumba, Earthmoving general manager at Liebherr-Africa, were present during the handover of the TA 230.

A long-standing supporter of Liebherr equipment, WR already operates a fleet of around 30 Liebherr machines. The company has now strengthened its fleet with the 28-tonne payload TA 230 articulated hauler, alongside a 21-tonne Liebherr R 920 Litronic crawler excavator.

These new additions complement WR’s extensive Liebherr fleet, which includes excavators such as the A 904 C, A 924 C, R 920, R 926 C, R 934 B, R 954 C, R 974 B and R 984 C, wheel loaders including the L 550 and L 580, as well as crawler dozers PR 744 and PR 764. The expanded fleet reflects WR’s continued confidence in Liebherr and its long-standing partnership with Liebherr-Africa.

Established in 1985, WR is a family-owned Namibian company that has grown into a recognised player in the earthmoving and plant hire sector. Operating nationwide, the company manages a fleet of 70 machines and serves industries including mining, contracting, road maintenance, demolition and hard rock excavation. Led by founder Robert Wirtz and his son Alex Wirtz, WR combines decades of experience with a modern approach to plant hire solutions.

Living up to expectations

Following delivery, the Liebherr TA 230 has been deployed at a gold mine near Karibib, where it is being used to transport fill material for the construction of a slimes dam. According to Alex Wirtz, the machine has already demonstrated the performance expected from it.

“WR Plant Hire is proud to already have this machine operating on site, where it has certainly lived up to expectations. The performance, reliability and production output delivered so far have been nothing short of impressive,” he says. “Investing in world-class equipment like the TA 230 is part of our ongoing commitment to offering our clients the highest standards in earthmoving and mining operations across Namibia,” added Wirtz.

Why Liebherr?

Although WR already operates more than 30 Liebherr machines, Wirtz explains that adding the TA 230 was a natural step aligned with the company’s long-term strategy of investing in high-quality, high-performance equipment. The new articulated dump truck further enhances WR’s diverse fleet and supports its focus on delivering advanced solutions to customers.

“The introduction of the new-generation ADT allows us to offer enhanced efficiency, reliability, and performance on site, while giving our clients the opportunity to experience and benchmark this machine against other leading brands in the market,” he said.

Support is a key factor

Beyond the quality and performance of Liebherr equipment in demanding Namibian conditions, Wirtz highlights Liebherr-Africa’s aftermarket support as a key reason behind WR’s continued partnership with the brand.

“The Liebherr Africa team has consistently provided excellent support over the past 30 years. From sales to technical assistance, the level of service we receive makes a real difference. When you operate a fleet of this size, reliability and support are critical – and Liebherr delivers on both,” commented Wirtz.

Concluding, Tendayi Kudumba, General Manager of Earthmoving at Liebherr-Africa, emphasises the importance of aftermarket services in ensuring equipment performance and customer success.

“Aftermarket support is critical in plant hire and earthmoving because it directly impacts machine uptime, safety, operational efficiency and long-term asset value.”

“In industries such as mining and plant hire, equipment downtime is out of the question, and OEM support – including genuine parts stockholding and technical support – is key to ensuring that machines operate at peak performance, even under extreme conditions, allowing our clients such as WR to run profitable operations,” concludes Kudumba.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has announced the successful transit of the CMA CGM NOTRE DAME, a giant French container ship and one of the world’s largest LNG-powered vessels, during its maiden passage through the Canal

The vessel travelled as part of the southern convoy while operating a route from Singapore to France.

Owned by French shipping company CMA CGM, the vessel measures 399.9 metres in length, has a 61.3-metre beam, a 16.5-metre draft, weighs 245,000 tonnes, and can accommodate 24,212 TEUs.

Powered by LNG and equipped with advanced AI technology, CMA CGM NOTRE DAME is considered France’s most technologically advanced vessel. The ship is designed for long-distance voyages and operates under the FAL3 maritime service connecting the Far East and North-West Europe.

SCA Chairman and Managing Director Adm. Ossama Rabiee directed teams to ensure the vessel’s safe passage through the deployment of senior pilots and escort tugboats. Following SCA protocol, senior pilots welcomed the crew and presented a commemorative gift to the shipmaster.

Adm. Rabiee highlighted the Canal’s readiness to handle the world’s largest container vessels, citing its strategic importance in protecting global supply chains and delivering economic efficiencies. He added that the SCA continues to enhance maritime services and introduce new navigation solutions to meet client requirements and maintain the highest safety standards for mega vessels.

Africa’s first privately-financed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant has secured funding from the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) and various Middle Eastern investors

The deal expands EAAIF’s footprint into the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, following its ongoing expansion into Asia.

The US$212mn clean fuels project, located in Egypt’s Sokhna Special Economic Zone, will be owned and operated by Green Sky Capital Limited together with its local subsidiary, SAF Fly Egypt.

EAAIF, a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company managed by Ninety One, supported a senior secured loan of US$40mn for the development of the plant.

The transaction marks the first project-financed SAF plant in the MENA region.

The facility is designed to produce 200,000 tonnes per annum of biofuels, including SAF, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), bio-propane and bio-naphtha and will utilise commercially proven Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) technology to convert waste-based feedstock into high-grade sustainable fuel.

To ensure long-term bankability, the transaction will be anchored by Shell who will purchase the facility’s products on a take-or-pay basis and act as its primary feedstock provider.

Martijn Proos, co-head of emerging market alternative credit, Ninety One, the fund manager of EAAIF, said the transaction arrives at a critical juncture for the global energy market.

“Amid heightened geopolitical volatility and energy market uncertainty, this first-of-its-kind facility provides a practical solution to advancing both decarbonisation and energy security,”he said.

“By acting as the global mandated leadarranger, Ninety One and EAAIF are demonstrating how institutional capital can be mobilised to support the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, which is projected to account for 5% of global emissions by 2050 without intervention.”

The project is being developed with the support of regional sponsors, including Al Mana Holding, a Qatari diversified conglomerate, and Vision Invest, a Saudi Arabian infrastructure investor and developer.

Ninety One acted as the global mandated lead arranger and coordinating lender, facilitating the mobilisation of a total debt package of US$142.9mn with a US$40 million commitment from EAAIF and Ninety One’s Emerging Markets Transition Debt (EMTD) Fund.

Ninety One has also mobilised the participation of Qatar National Bank (QNB) via its Egyptian subsidiary, QNB S.A.E, with a commitment of up to US$31.4mn.

The debt financing was completed by The Arab Energy Fund, which acted as co-MLA and global structuring lender committed US$71.4mn to the project.

SAF is estimated to offer up to an 80% reduction in CO₂ emissions, compared to conventional jet fuel, supporting the aviation industry’s target of reaching net-zero by 2050.

The project's strategic location near the Suez Canal offers a direct export route to key demand centres in the EU and UK, which are currently implementing strict SAF mandates.

The transaction also demonstrates strong appetite among regional and international lenders for renewable fuels infrastructure, supporting both energy security and price stability amid heightened global volatility.

“Emerging markets have been transitioning toward renewables and cleaner energy sources for some time, driven by rising energy costs and the need to strengthen energy security,” said Alper Kilic, head of alternative credit, Ninety One.

“This investment highlights the critical role long-term capital plays in scaling next-generation energy infrastructure in emerging markets.”

He added that sustainable aviation fuel is “one of the most compelling – and challenging – decarbonisation pathways” requiring proven technology and strong commercial structures to deliver at scale.

“This project demonstrates how institutional investors can pursue attractive risk-adjusted returns while supporting the real-economy transition, and underscores the growing opportunity for transition debt strategies to finance high-impact assets in hard-to-abate sectors.”

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has welcomed the official opening of EBOR’s new manufacturing facility in Kariega, describing the development as a significant boost for the region’s industrial landscape and its position as the Bay of Opportunity and a leading manufacturing hub in South Africa

The investment by EBOR, an established automotive component manufacturer specialising in plastic moulded parts and assemblies, demonstrates continued confidence in Nelson Mandela Bay’s manufacturing capabilities and future growth potential. The new advanced facility expands local production capacity, strengthens the automotive supply chain, and contributes to the preservation and creation of sustainable employment opportunities within a key economic sector.

Covering 8,000 sq m, the Kariega facility represents a 60% increase in scale compared with EBOR’s previous operations. The expansion is supported by an estimated R100 million (approx. US$6.1mn) investment in infrastructure, along with a further R45 million (approx. US$2.7mn) allocated towards relocation, upgrades, and advanced equipment. With around 140 employees, EBOR continues to contribute to employment and the development of the region’s manufacturing ecosystem.

Manufacturing remains a vital component of Nelson Mandela Bay’s economy, accounting for approximately 22% of GDP while supporting industrial activity and employment. Investments such as EBOR’s expansion extend beyond individual companies by encouraging supplier development, enabling skills transfer, and strengthening economic resilience across the wider region.

Commenting on the opening, Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, said the facility highlights the metro’s continued attractiveness as an investment destination despite current economic challenges.

“EBOR’s expansion into a significantly larger and more advanced facility is a strong vote of confidence in the manufacturing strength of Nelson Mandela Bay. It reinforces our positioning as the Bay of Opportunity and speaks directly to the resilience and capability of our industrial base,” she said.

Van Huyssteen further emphasised the importance of ongoing automotive sector investment in supporting regional economic growth.

“Manufacturing remains the backbone of our metro’s economy. When companies like EBOR invest, they strengthen the entire value chain, support local suppliers, safeguard jobs, and enhance South Africa’s competitiveness in the global automotive industry,” she said.

She added that EBOR’s investment demonstrates the continued opportunities available within Nelson Mandela Bay’s industrial sector.

“At a time when economic uncertainty continues to weigh on business confidence, this investment stands as tangible proof that Nelson Mandela Bay remains a strategic manufacturing destination with deep industrial expertise, skilled talent, and established infrastructure. It is precisely this kind of commitment that drives economic renewal and builds long-term resilience in our metro,” Van Huyssteen concluded.