FutureCoal has announced the formal expansion of its Africa Chapter as governments around the world place renewed emphasis on energy security, industrial competitiveness and domestic resource development amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and growing electricity demand.
The announcement was made by FutureCoal Chairman and Africa Chapter Chairman Mike Teke during his address to the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines Annual Conference, where he highlighted the need for greater regional collaboration as countries reassess long-term energy and industrial strategies.
“The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is welcome news, but recent events have demonstrated how quickly global energy markets can be disrupted,” said Teke.
“The lesson for governments is not about a single shipping route; it is about ensuring countries have access to reliable domestic energy resources, resilient supply chains and secure industrial capacity. Energy security and affordability must come first, because without them there can be no stable or sustainable transition.”
Teke emphasised that Africa, which holds some of the world’s largest coal reserves, must position itself strategically within this changing global environment.
“Africa cannot afford fragmented voices anymore,” he said.
“Investment, policy, supply chains and technology are increasingly global. This expansion ensures Africa engages with a unified and credible voice in shaping the future of energy and industrial development.”
Originally launched in February 2025 with founding support from industry leaders in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the Chapter’s evolution broadens its mandate to represent coal-producing nations across the continent. It will focus on coordinated engagement in technology, investment, energy security, and industrial growth.
In his address, Teke pointed to global developments underscoring coal’s continued importance to energy security and industrial resilience. These include India’s recent US$4 billion coal gasification scheme, targeting 100 million tonnes annually by 2030, and the impact of supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, which prompted renewed reliance on coal across multiple markets.
He also highlighted regional progress, including the deployment of High-Efficiency Low-Emission (HELE) technology at Hwange Power Station’s Units 7 and 8 as a practical example of Sustainable Coal Stewardship in action, alongside rehabilitation work on Units 1 to 6 and Zimbabwe’s broader exploration of coal gasification and Coal-to-X pathways.
The expansion is underpinned by FutureCoal’s Sustainable Coal Stewardship framework, which provides a practical roadmap for responsible coal production, emissions reduction, technology deployment and industrial development.
“The issue is not whether coal exists, but how it is produced, used and its negative impacts mitigated,” said Teke. “Sustainable Coal Stewardship provides a practical pathway for responsible development. Africa has the resources, the capability, and the people – we must now act with coordination and confidence.”
FutureCoal is inviting governments, industry, and investors across Africa to actively participate in the Chapter and help shape a balanced, secure and investment-ready energy future.
