Linda Mabhena-Olagunju is transforming South Africa’s renewable energy sector through inclusive, sustainable leadership and innovation.
As discussions on sustainable development intensify across the globe, few figures capture Africa’s transition to renewable energy quite like Linda Mabhena-Olagunju. Born in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Mabhena-Olagunju’s journey from a law graduate to the founder and Chief Executive Officer of DLO Energy Resources Group (Pty) Ltd has positioned her among the continent’s notable voices in clean energy.
From law to the energy sector
Mabhena-Olagunju earned an LLB from the University of Cape Town before obtaining a master’s degree in international commercial law, specialising in oil and gas law, from the University of Aberdeen. Although she initially pursued a legal career, her interests gradually shifted towards the growing opportunities within Africa’s energy industry. Recognising the continent’s dependence on fossil fuels and the limited representation of black women in the sector, she founded DLO Energy Resources Group in 2011.
Her decision was guided by a desire to contribute to Africa’s energy security while promoting inclusivity and local participation. DLO Energy set out to play an active role in the renewable-energy market, particularly in wind and solar projects, at a time when South Africa was grappling with power shortages and an urgent need to diversify its energy mix.
Over the years, she has grown DLO Energy into a recognised player within the South African renewable-energy sector. The company holds a stake in the 244-megawatt Longyuan Mulilo wind portfolio in the Northern Cape, which contributes electricity to roughly 160,000 homes, according to project data. The development is also reported to offset around 619,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Beyond wind, DLO Energy has developed solar projects at various stages of implementation, broadening its footprint in the region’s clean-energy portfolio.
Driving inclusion and skills development
DLO Energy’s work extends beyond infrastructure. The company has introduced initiatives aimed at supporting youth and women through training and mentorship in renewable-energy operations. Programmes under its skills-development banner focus on preparing participants for employment opportunities within the growing green-economy space.
Mabhena-Olagunju has also spearheaded events such as the DLO African Women in Leadership Summit, which seeks to provide a platform for dialogue around female leadership and access to investment networks. Such efforts have positioned her as an advocate for gender representation and entrepreneurship within traditionally male-dominated industries.
Over more than a decade, Mabhena-Olagunju’s career has mirrored the wider evolution of South Africa’s renewable-energy sector—from its early procurement rounds to a more diversified market that increasingly recognises the importance of private-sector innovation. Her dual background in law and energy policy continues to inform her company’s approach to navigating regulatory frameworks and fostering partnerships.
As South Africa and the wider region push towards more sustainable and inclusive energy systems, Mabhena-Olagunju’s work continues to redefine the continent’s power landscape
