Professor Benedict Oramah, former President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and current Chairman of Africa Trading Minerals (ATMIN), will chair the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 Finance Summit, taking place from 12-16 October in Cape Town. ORAMA's participation puts one of Africa's most influential development finance leaders at the forefront of discussions on energy investment, infrastructure financing and industrial development, confirming the event's role as the continent's premier deal-making platform.
The AEW 2026 Finance Summit, taking place as part of the Main Strategic Summit programme, will address one of the most pressing challenges facing Africa's energy sector: the lack of investment. With an estimated annual energy investment gap of between $31 billion and $50 billion, the summit will explore concrete strategies to mobilize private capital, expand development financing, and open new avenues for domestic financing across the energy value chain. Orma's participation ensures that these discussions remain central to the event.
Having previously led Afreximbank, Orama was instrumental in establishing the institution as one of the continent's most active financiers of strategic infrastructure and energy projects. The Bank has played a key role in supporting African-led energy development, including supporting refining infrastructure, advancing regional trade integration and facilitating capital access for major projects. In recent years, the Bank has increased its capital base by $25 billion, enhancing its ability to finance large-scale energy and infrastructure initiatives. It has also played a leading role in the development of the Africa Energy Bank (AEB), which is expected to begin operations in 2026 and deploy billions of capital to African energy projects.
Recent developments underline Afreximbank's continued role in financing African projects and highlight the importance of development finance in accelerating infrastructure implementation. South Africa joined Afreximbank in 2026, opening a $3 billion transformation fund aimed at supporting black-owned businesses and SMEs, as well as an $8 billion country program focused on energy, manufacturing and trade. Meanwhile, a new trading house – ATMIN – was launched in 2025 by a group of former shale traders, with financial backing from Afreximbank.
The bank has underwritten $2.5 billion of a $4 billion syndicated term loan for Nigeria's Dangote Petroleum Refinery; Launched the African Continental Free Trade Area Adjustment Fund; Launched its flagship accelerator program to boost intra-African trade; and committed financing packages to Ecobank Zimbabwe, Egypt's SAMCO and Malawi's NBS Bank.
Afreximbank has also expanded its developmental mandate through initiatives such as the African Medical Center of Excellence (AMCE), reflecting the growing recognition that energy, healthcare and industrialization are interconnected pillars of long-term economic development. The $300 million tertiary care facility was developed in partnership with King's College Hospital London, providing world-class services in oncology, hematology, cardiology and general medicine. The center officially opened in 2025.
“Prof. Benedict Oramah represents the type of leadership that Africa needs as the continent works to finance its own energy future. His participation in AEW 2026 comes at a pivotal moment, as Africa strengthens energy security, expands industrial capacity and builds financing institutions capable of supporting long-term development,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
The AEW 2026 Finance Summit is expected to serve as an important platform to advance new financing structures, facilitate investment partnerships and accelerate commercially driven dealmaking in Africa's energy sector. The summit will focus on project bankability, African-led financing mechanisms, infrastructure investments, risk mitigation strategies and the emerging role of development finance institutions in supporting the continent's energy expansion.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Energy Chamber.