Podcast by Matthew Fredericks
What 'Built for the Frontier' means to USP&E
Built for the Frontier: Power, Risk and Opportunity in Africa
Frontier markets are often defined by their challenges. In this podcast conversation, USP&E’s Matthew Fredericks challenges the idea that difficult means unworkable.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience across the energy and mining sectors, Matthew explores what it really takes to deliver and operate critical power infrastructure in some of Africa’s most complex environments.
At the heart of the conversation is an important distinction: entering a frontier market is one thing. Having the resilience, technical capability and staying power to remain there when conditions become difficult is another.
Matthew discusses the importance of building long-term relationships, understanding risk on the ground rather than from a boardroom, and developing the credibility that comes from proven execution. Because in frontier markets, trust and bankability are built through what happens when projects face their most difficult moments.
The conversation also looks at the scale of the opportunity ahead. As mining, industry and infrastructure demand continue to grow, reliable power remains fundamental. From embedded generation and energy storage to the rehabilitation and optimisation of existing assets, the opportunity is significant for businesses that have the experience and willingness to execute.
For USP&E, being Built for the Frontier is not simply about where we operate. It is about how we operate: combining technical breadth, long-term partnership and the willingness to take accountability across the lifecycle of a project.
Listen to the full conversation with Matthew Fredericks and discover why some of Africa’s most challenging power markets may also hold some of its greatest opportunities.
Powering Possibility. Built for the Frontier.