The Grid Convergence Forum, taking place as part of Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2027 in Paris, will examine how governments, utilities, investors and developers are financing the next phase of Africa's power expansion. Running alongside IAE's exploration, investment and commodities-focused forums, the dedicated track will examine critical themes including gas-to-power financing and grid expansion, hybrid and captive power solutions for industrial users, and the regulatory and commercial frameworks underpinning cross-border electricity trade.

Gas-to-power will be a central focus as several African markets move from resource development to domestic power generation. In Southern Africa, Mozambique's 450 MW Temane Gas-to-Power Project is targeting commercial operations in 2027, marking a major step toward monetizing domestic gas resources through power generation. In West Africa, Senegal is advancing its own gas-to-power strategy through the construction of an onshore power plant near Saint-Louis and a 230 MW gas-fired power plant in N'Diago, both of which will utilize domestic gas from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) development. Together, the projects form part of the government's strategy to eliminate natural gas imports by the end of 2026 while transitioning approximately 75% of national electricity generation to domestic gas.

The forum will also examine the rapid growth of hybrid and captive power systems, particularly within Africa's mining sector. Six mining operations across Mali, Senegal, the DRC and Madagascar have already commissioned solar-dominant hybrid power systems totaling 213 MW, while an additional 1,946 MW of captive renewable capacity is in advanced planning or pre-FID stages. In February 2026, CrossBoundary Energy secured regulatory approval for a 233 MW solar-plus-battery project serving the Kamoa-Kakula mining complex in the DRC, highlighting the growing commercial viability of integrated power solutions for large industrial consumers.

Regional electricity integration will form the forum's third pillar. The West African Power Pool achieved a major milestone in November 2025 by successfully synchronizing the electricity grids of all 15 member states for four continuous hours, with permanent synchronization targeted this year. Cross-border electricity trade now accounts for approximately 8% of regional supply, approaching the European Commission's 10-12% benchmark, while development of a regional day-ahead electricity market continues.  In February 2026, the southern and eastern African power pools signed a cooperation agreement to harmonize regulations and strengthen electricity trading between the two regional markets.

The introduction of the Grid Convergence Forum reflects IAE's commitment to covering the full energy investment value chain. Alongside the Exploration & Discovery Forum, the Commodities & Capital Allocation Forum and the dedicated Business-to-Government (B2G) Day, the program offers investors a comprehensive platform to engage across upstream development, power infrastructure, critical minerals and energy finance.

The Invest in African Energy Forum returns to Paris for its fifth edition on 11-13 May, 2027. To sponsor or register as a delegate, contact sales@energycapitalpower.com. For more information, visit www.invest-africa-energy.com.