US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, an engineer and businessman who established his own fracking company before he turned 30, will deliver a keynote speech to open the 10th Powering Africa Summit this Thursday.
“I look forward to joining the Summit to reaffirm the strategic energy partnership between the US and Africa and share my vision for advancing innovation and removing barriers to energy access, both at home and around the world,” says Wright, who was confirmed by the US Senate last month.
Underlining the importance of the Powering Africa Summit, Secretary Wright will be the first member of President Donald Trump’s new cabinet to publicly speak at a major conference this year, and attendees and others involved in African energy will be eager for clarification on the new US Administration’s approach to the strategic energy partnership between the US and Africa.
Previously the CEO of Liberty Energy, North America's second largest hydraulic fracturing company, and a board member of nuclear energy and mineral rights companies, Wright was sworn in on 3 February to replace former Secretary Jennifer Granholm as head of the US Department of Energy.
Unlike Granholm, who was a supporter of electric vehicles and emerging energy sources like geothermal power, and backer of carbon-free wind, solar and nuclear energy, Wright is a first-time politician and donor to Trump’s campaign for reelection who has previously been a loud critic of energy transition, ‘hype’ relating to California wildfires, and policies to curb climate change, including the Department of Energy’s own goal to reach net-zero.
“As Secretary of Energy, I am committed to unleashing all forms of affordable, reliable and secure energy here at home and advancing that mission of energy security around the world – and nowhere is that more critical than the continent of Africa,” said Wright recently, ahead of his keynote address and Guest of Honour appearance at this week’s Powering Africa Summit.
The major sponsor of the Summit is Sun Africa, an innovative renewable energy solutions company with offices in the United States, Africa, and Europe, and tens of billions of dollars of sustainable energy projects.
“We are seeing a sea change in how the US participates in foreign infrastructure development,” says Sun Africa CEO Andrew Cortese, noting that the unique development model they use shows US energy companies can thrive in emerging markets like Africa on a strictly commercial basis.
“Sun Africa remains committed to harnessing Africa’s immense energy resources through innovative structures, state-of-the-art technology and strong alliances,” continues Cortese. “We believe energy development on the continent truly represents an opportunity for win-win partnerships.”
Secretary Wright’s opening of the Powering Africa Summit and keynote address on Thursday at 9.45am will be followed by a Fireside Chat with Andrew Herscowitz, CEO of Mission 300 Accelerator, which aims to provide electricity access to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
The Secretary will be joined at the Summit by representatives of the State Department, Bureau of African Affairs, and Bureau of Energy Resources to “share their vision for this future relationship between African countries and the US-based investors that are so vital to realising their energy ambitions”.
Energy and technology providers, US and African government representatives, and investors and financiers will utilise the Summit to network, collaborate, and debate a variety of key topics, including at flagship ministerial boardrooms and regional energy cooperation sessions.
The 10th Anniversary Gala Drinks Reception, sponsored by Genesis Energy, will celebrate International Women’s Day, ahead of 8 March.