No Power, No Production: The Energy Bottleneck Threatening Critical Mineral Returns

Covington and the Critical Minerals Africa Group invite you to attend a panel discussion, which will bring together leaders from mining, energy, finance and infrastructure to examine how Africa can overcome its energy bottlenecks, mobilise investment and deliver the power infrastructure required to turn mineral resources into commercially viable projects.

Reliable, affordable power is fundamental to unlocking Africa's critical minerals potential. Yet electricity shortages, inadequate transmission infrastructure, and financing constraints continue to delay mining projects, processing facilities, and industrial development.

Key Themes:

• Power as the critical path: How unreliable electricity and infrastructure deficits are delaying mine development, beneficiation and processing.
• Financing the energy gap: Who funds transmission networks, captive power and the infrastructure required to unlock mineral corridors?
• Regional integration: Can cross-border electricity trade and regional power pools accelerate mining and industrial growth?
• Competitiveness and energy security: Balancing affordable, reliable power with decarbonisation commitments and investor returns.

Event Details

Tuesday, 24 November 2026

5:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception
6:00 p.m. | Panel Discussion
7:00 p.m. |Q&A
7:30 - 8:30  p.m. | Reception 

This event is closed to the press and to professionals from other law firms.

Presenters

• Eddy Kioni, Founder and CEO of Buenassa
• Ana Hajduka, Founder and Group CEO Africa GreenCo
• Ben Donovan, Partner, Covington
• Veronica Bolton-Smith, CEO, Critical Minerals Africa Group