Conference List

This opening plenary session will provide a high-level overview of the current state and future potential of the biogas sector in South Africa, with a particular focus on the policy and regulatory environment required to support industry growth.

The session will explore how governments, municipalities, regulators, and industry stakeholders can work together to create enabling frameworks that accelerate investment, project implementation, and long-term sector development. Discussions will also highlight the role of biogas within broader energy transition, waste management, climate, and circular economy strategies.

Key themes may include:

• Biogas policy and regulatory developments
• Waste management and renewable energy legislation
• Licensing, permitting, and compliance requirements
• Public-private collaboration and sector support mechanisms
• The role of biogas in achieving climate and sustainability targets

Biochar is increasingly attracting attention not only as a carbon removal pathway, but also as a multifunctional tool capable of improving soil health, nutrient efficiency, water retention and agricultural resilience. This session will explore how biochar applications are evolving from research and pilot programmes into real-world deployment across agricultural, environmental and climate-related applications. Bringing together researchers, standards organisations and project practitioners, the discussion will examine both the scientific foundations and the practical realities of integrating biochar into regenerative and climate-smart land management systems.

Illustrated through field experience, applied research and operational projects, the session will provide insight into how biochar is being used across different soils, climates and agricultural systems, as well as the challenges linked to quality assurance, agronomic performance and long-term monitoring. Contributions from International Biochar Initiative (IBI), Circular Bionutrient Economy Network (CBE) and University Cadi Ayyad will explore the intersections between biochar science, carbon markets, nutrient cycling, regenerative agriculture and sustainable land restoration. Delegates can expect to gain a clearer understanding of both the opportunities and the practical implementation pathways for scaling high-integrity biochar projects in African and international contexts.

South Africa’s biochar sector is reaching an important turning point. For the first time, a unique group of pioneering producers, technology developers and early-stage project leaders will come together for an open discussion on the realities of building a biochar industry within the Sub-Saharan African context. Drawing on hands-on experience from organisations including B10 Char, PyroSA / Pyronam, Phambili Global, MyCHARR, Aquagel and Nhlamunyiko Group, the session will offer delegates a rare opportunity to hear directly from those navigating the technical, operational, financial and market realities of scaling biochar projects in Southern Africa. Through the sharing of individual journeys - each shaped by different feedstocks, technologies, markets, financing pathways and operational contexts - the discussion will help reveal a broader collective experience of the sector, highlighting both the recurring challenges encountered across projects and the areas where approaches are converging around shared lessons - or beginning to diverge as technologies, markets and business models evolve.

Rather than theoretical discussions, the session will focus on practical lessons learned from real projects, real deployment challenges and real commercial experiences encountered along the way. The discussion will explore how producers and developers are approaching feedstock selection, technology pathways, carbon certification, market development and commercial positioning, while also examining where the strongest opportunities are emerging across agriculture, industry, carbon removal and the wider bioeconomy. Delegates can expect candid insight into the successes, setbacks and unexpected realities encountered by first movers in the sector, as well as perspectives on what is still needed - from policy support and infrastructure to financing mechanisms, partnerships and market confidence - to help accelerate biochar deployment across Sub-Saharan Africa. Together, these collective experiences will help provide a grounded and forward-looking picture of where the Sub-Saharan African biochar sector stands today and where it could realistically evolve to over the coming decade.

This session will examine the treatment and valorisation of industrial and agricultural effluent streams through anaerobic digestion and related waste-to-energy technologies.
Speakers will discuss how effluent management systems can reduce environmental impacts while simultaneously generating renewable energy, recovering nutrients, and improving operational sustainability across multiple industries.
The session will include perspectives from sectors such as:

• Agriculture and livestock production
• Food and beverage processing
• Wastewater treatment
• Industrial manufacturing

Key discussion areas include:

• Effluent treatment technologies
• Wastewater-to-energy systems
• Environmental compliance and sustainability
• Energy recovery and resource efficiency
• Opportunities for industrial decarbonisation

As biochar markets continue to mature, increasing attention is being given to industrial applications capable of extending its value far beyond agriculture and carbon removal alone. This session will explore how biochar and biocarbon materials are beginning to emerge as strategic tools within industrial decarbonisation pathways, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as metallurgy, mining and heavy industry. Drawing on international project experience and operational perspectives, the discussion will examine the technical, environmental and commercial realities of integrating biochar-derived materials into industrial processes traditionally reliant on fossil carbon sources.

Alongside industrial applications, the session will also explore the growing role of biochar in land remediation and ecological restoration, particularly in landscapes affected by mining and industrial degradation. Speakers will share insights into how biochar can contribute to soil rehabilitation, contaminant immobilisation, water retention and ecosystem recovery, while simultaneously supporting carbon sequestration and circular resource utilisation. Delegates can expect to gain a clearer understanding of the opportunities, limitations and emerging market pathways for industrial biochar applications, as well as how these approaches may contribute to wider decarbonisation, land restoration and bioeconomy development strategies within African and international contexts.

Optimising anaerobic digestion systems is essential for improving plant efficiency, increasing gas yields, enhancing digestate quality and ensuring long-term operational stability. This technical session will focus on the strategies, technologies and operational approaches being used to improve the performance of anaerobic digestion systems across different scales and applications. Bringing together complementary perspectives from biological optimisation specialists, material technology providers and experienced plant operators, the discussion will examine how process optimisation is becoming increasingly important for maximising both the technical and economic performance of AD projects.

Greencell will present its approach to boosting anaerobic digestion performance through bio-solutions designed to enhance both biogas output and digestate value. The discussion will explore how biological optimisation strategies, microbial stimulation and process enhancement can contribute to greater methane yields, improved digestion efficiency and higher-value nutrient recovery from digestate streams.

Drawing on operational experience from South Africa, Cape Town Biogas will contribute practical perspectives on the optimisation and day-to-day management of anaerobic digestion systems under real operating conditions. This will include insight into process stability, operational troubleshooting, feedstock handling and maintaining plant performance in commercial and municipal contexts.

Together, these perspectives will provide a rounded view of how biological optimisation, gas treatment technologies, material science and operational know-how can work together to improve methane yields, process resilience, digestate valorisation and the long-term bankability of anaerobic digestion projects.

Africa’s cooking energy transition requires more than simply replacing traditional fuels — it requires the development of integrated, scalable, and locally rooted energy ecosystems. This session explores the emerging concept of “Green Cooking”: modern renewable cooking systems based on sustainable bioenergy pathways including biogas, bioethanol, pellets, wood chips, and other circular biomass solutions.

Bringing together technology developers, project implementers, financiers, policymakers, and carbon market stakeholders, the session will examine how fuels and cooking technologies must be developed in parallel to create viable markets and long-term adoption. Discussions will cover technology pathways, decentralized production models, fuel distribution systems, circular economy opportunities, institutional demand, carbon finance, and the policy frameworks needed to scale green cooking across Africa.

The session aims to position bioenergy not as a transitional solution, but as a strategic pillar of Africa’s renewable energy, agricultural, and circular bioeconomy future.

The planned session structure is as follows:

• Welcome & Introduction (09:30 - 09:40)
• Fuel & Technology Pathways (09:40 - 10:40)
• Value Chains & Deployment (10:40 - 11:35)
  Break: Stretch your legs (11:35 - 11:50)
• Finance (11:50 - 12:30)
• Panel Discussion: Scaling up (12:30 - 13:00)

Session organised in collaboration with the World Bioenergy Association (WBA) Clean Cooking Working Group. Support by GIZ Kenya, African Biodigester Component Kenya

Regenerative agriculture is increasingly emerging as a critical intersection point between soil health, nutrient recovery, climate resilience, circular economy development and carbon removal. This session will explore how biological inputs, organic waste valorisation, biofertilisers and biochar-based soil solutions are being deployed to help restore degraded soils, improve crop productivity and reduce dependence on imported synthetic fertilisers. Bringing together pioneers working across waste management, biological agronomy, carbon markets and regenerative farming systems, the discussion will examine how integrated circular approaches can help strengthen both agricultural resilience and local bioeconomies within African and international contexts.

Drawing on operational experience from across the continent, Regen Organics will share insight into its circular economy model transforming urban organic waste streams into valuable agricultural inputs, including organic fertilisers, while also pioneering biochar and carbon credit initiatives in Africa. GreenCell will explore the role of biofertilisers and biological soil enhancement in improving soil health, sustainability and crop yields within emerging agronomic systems. Contributions from Phambili Energy will examine the JengaBio Suite and its approach to biological and regenerative agricultural solutions, while Circular Bionutrient Economy Network (CBEA) and Regen8 / Aquagel will provide broader perspectives on nutrient cycling, soil regeneration, water efficiency and sustainable land management. Delegates can expect to gain practical insight into how regenerative agriculture is evolving from isolated practices into integrated systems linking waste valorisation, biological soil restoration, climate resilience and carbon finance opportunities.

Part 1 (10:00 - 11:30)
CBEA
Regen Organics
Greencell
Carbon Connect
1 hour of presentations and 30 mins of panel discussion / exchange with the floor

Part 2 (11:40 - 13:10)
Phambili Energy
Aquagel
Bioactive Biologics 
1 hour of presentations and 30 mins of panel discussion / exchange with the floor

more details to follow soon

Southern Africa’s solid biomass sector is entering a pivotal phase of development as industries and power producers seek reliable alternatives to fossil fuels. While wood pellets have attracted growing attention, the opportunity extends across pellets, wood chips and briquettes. However, success depends not only on fuel production but on the development of professional biomass supply chains capable of delivering consistent quality, secure volumes and long-term reliability. For biomass projects to succeed, fuel supply considerations must be integrated from the earliest stages of project design, alongside technology, engineering and financing.

This session brings together leading biomass producers, suppliers and sector organisations to explore the practical realities of building a mature biomass industry in Southern Africa. Speakers will share experience in feedstock development, logistics, fuel quality assurance and customer engagement, while addressing the critical question of how the sector can demonstrate the reliability and professionalism required by industrial and utility off-takers.

Featuring Africa Biomass Company, HVE Wood Pelleting, Coega Biomass Centre and Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG), the discussion will highlight different approaches to market development and supply chain structuring. Particular attention will be given to Namibia’s coordinated biomass sector development model and the lessons it offers for the wider region.

The session will also examine opportunities in industrial heat and power, clean cooking and export markets, alongside the infrastructure, contracting models, certification frameworks and investment conditions needed to scale deployment. Ultimately, the discussion aims to explore how Southern Africa can build a recognised, investable biomass industry capable of supplying reliable renewable fuels at scale.