Out of Africa
Karen Blixen’s famous memoir "Out of Africa" begins with a look back at a vast landscape of immense potential, vivid challenges, and profound transformation. Writing this editorial following an intensive, inspiring journey across the African continent—from the bustling streets of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to our Steering Committee meeting last week in Johannesburg, South Africa—I am struck by how fitting that phrase is for the future of our association.
President of CIGRE
Today, "Out of Africa" does not signify a departure; rather, it represents the incredible technical leadership, community momentum, and pioneering energy solutions that are emerging from the continent to influence the global stage. Africa is at the very nexus of the global energy transition. It is a continent tasked with the dual, monumental challenge of rapidly expanding energy access while simultaneously pioneering sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon infrastructure. The sheer determination of the engineering community to solve these complex equations was on full display during my visit in Tanzania. Engaging with local professionals, utility representatives, and the brilliant young minds at the University of Dar es Salaam, the atmosphere was charged with collaborative ambition. Through the growing footprint of the CIGRE and the groundwork being laid for enhanced regional integration, we are witnessing firsthand how local expertise is rising to meet global challenges.
This drive is echoing across every region of the continent. A few days later, the global spotlight turned to Senegal for the CIGRE West Africa Study Committees Training and Meetings in Dakar. Organized in vital partnership with Senelec and the West African Power Pool (WAPP), this landmark gathering brought together hundreds of regional and international experts. Focusing on critical pillars like resilient overhead lines, grid automation, and the harmonization necessary for a unified regional electricity market, Dakar proved that Africa is no longer merely consuming imported solutions—it is actively establishing international standards and driving the technical sovereignty of its power systems.
The momentum built from East to West Africa carried us directly into our Steering Committee meeting in Johannesburg last week. Against the backdrop of South Africa's deep-rooted engineering heritage, this meeting was marked by a rare and profound sense of institutional history. It was a true privilege for me, as acting President, to be joined physically in the room by three of our esteemed Past Presidents (from right to left in the picture below), Klaus Ftöhlich, Michel Augonnet and Rob Stephen, while a fourth, André Merlin, connected with us online. To have five presidential perspectives—representing decades of CIGRE’s global leadership, evolution, and technical mastery—collaborating in one space added immense weight, wisdom, and continuity to our governance. With this extraordinary gathering of minds, the primary focus of our Johannesburg sessions centered squarely on advancing our "One Grid" philosophy.
CIGRE Past Presidents (from right to left): Klaus Fröhlich, Michel Augonnet and Rob Stephen
As we look toward the future, the concept of "One Grid" is an operational imperative. The energy transition requires us to break down the traditional, rigid silos between generation, transmission, and distribution, moving instead toward a seamlessly integrated, end-to-end power ecosystem. In Johannesburg, the Steerco deliberated deeply on how CIGRE can best facilitate this global integration. We mapped out strategic initiatives to ensure that our Study Committees work in closer harmony than ever before, developing the cross-cutting technical brochures required to manage highly decentralized, intermittent renewable generation alongside legacy grid infrastructure.
Moreover, the "One Grid" vision we advanced in South Africa is deeply geopolitical and social. It champions the physical and regulatory interconnection of regional power pools—such as the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and the West African Power Pool (WAPP) we engaged with in Dakar—into a broader, more resilient global energy fabric. By uniting our unparalleled global network of experts, we are building a "One Grid" community that ensures technical excellence developed in one corner of the world can instantly fortify a power system in another.
My journeys through Tanzania, Senegal, and South Africa have proven that the answers to tomorrow’s grid complexities will not come from a single region or an isolated discipline. They will come from a diverse, interconnected global network willing to learn from the unique challenges and leapfrogging technologies coming straight, not only "Out of Africa", but also being deployed in the more than 100 countries our members are active.
Guided by the shared wisdom of our past and the energy of our present, it is our privilege to lead the CIGRE family forward to an all-electric future.
Konstantin O. Papailiou
President of CIGRE