With data centres set to account for 20 percent of global energy use by 2050, the East Africa Community (EAC) is set to catalyse digital infrastructure and regional energy integration through showcasing a wealth of bankable businesses and unparalleled new energy potential.

This will be showcased during the East Africa Energy Cooperation Summit (EA-ECS), taking place 29-30 January in Arusha.

The event is seeking to unite the Africa’s energy Independent Power Producers and EPCF stakeholders to explore the investment potential and innovations being created by strategically important companies, including Africa Data Centres and iXAfrica.

In 2024, following EnergyNet’s Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC, USA, Mara Holdings signalled their intent to invest in East Africa by signing a major off-taker MOU with the government of Kenya, setting the tone for what will potentially change the game for the region and the commercial validity for many IPPs.

At the heart of this regional surge in investment activity sits the EAC Secretariat, who convenes investors and policy makers alongside EnergyNet, focusing on “Resource Wealth, Energy Access and Investment Opportunities."

Building on the success of last year, the summit will foster cooperation across East Africa, reflecting the East African Community’s (EAC) vision of deeper regional integration and the critical role of promoting industrialisation and cooperation among stakeholders.

Success stories, including the Ethiopia-Kenya electricity highway, underscore the transformative potential of cross-border collaboration for economic and social development.

Off-takers are boosting the need for energy generation and the summit will focus on both the mining industry and digital infrastructure.

Led by Ministers from across the EAC and large-scale energy users, over two days, the Arusha Summit will deep dive into opportunities for the private sector, advocating for a diversified energy mix to maintain grid stability to support major industrial growth, as well as C&I generation.

“Energy is a pillar for development and growth and is crucial for the functioning of the economies of the EAC Partner States. The East Africa Energy Cooperation Summit will serve as the ideal platform for advancing projects and bringing tangible changes in the industry,” said Andrea Malueth, Deputy Secretary General (Infrastructure, Productive, Social & Political Sectors), East African Community Secretariat.

EA-ECS will welcome prominent politicians and leaders from all countries of the EAC and its energy sector. They join the private sector business developers who are shaping the future of East Africa's energy landscape, serving some 500 million people.

“Ten years from now, the EAC’s middle classes will have more job stability, more opportunities, and more disposable income than ever before. New railways, industries, ports, and tourism will position the region as the number one investment destination globally, taking the title back from both parts of Asia and Latin America,” said Elisa Palmioli, Producer, EnergyNet.

The energy sector in East Africa is one of the fastest-growing industries in the region, driven by increasing energy demand, investments in renewable energy, and exploration of fossil fuel reserves.

Uganda and Kenya have discovered commercially viable oil reserves, with Uganda's Lake Albert project (Tilenga and Kingfisher fields) expected to start production soon. The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is a crucial project for transporting Uganda's oil to Tanzania’s Tanga port.

Tanzania has significant natural gas reserves, with ongoing developments to expand its LNG export capabilities.

Initiatives like the East African Power Pool (EAPP) aim to create cross-border electricity trade and grid interconnectivity, reducing power costs and increasing access to reliable energy.

Despite growth, many rural areas in East Africa lack electricity access, governments and development partners are promoting off-grid solutions, particularly solar home systems, to bridge this gap.