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By Godfrey Olukya 15-4-2014
More than 5000 power and water professionals, including utility heads from Nigeria, Uganda, Namibia, Senegal, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, will gather for the 14th annual African utility week and clean power Africa a conference and expo in South Africa’s Cape town from 13 to 14th of May 2014.
It is the largest utility gathering of its kind on the continent with visitors from 30 African countries and 70 worldwide.
“Africa’s energy and water challenges are not unique but it is important to look at African solutions for Africa and we are making great progress”, says Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl African utility week programme director.
“It is a relevant and practical gathering at a time when resources are under the spot light, by the industry, for the industry,” Pombo-van Zyl explains, “We will discuss topics ranging from the energy-water-food nexus, energy efficiency, rural electrification, smart metering, hear about cherry-picked case studies and successful projects around the continent and look at how utilities can incorporate renewable energy into their power mix.”
She adds on, During the Utility CEO Forum, which will be attended by CEOs and high-level utility executives from countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Namibia, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa, we will particularly focus on short-term, technical wins that utilities can implement, looking at appropriate technologies for Africa, without having to invest in something as expensive and long term as smart grids in order to improve grid efficiency.”
The expo will focus on the latest technology and services in the industry disciplines of metering, clean power, water, large power users, investment and finance, transmission and distribution, smart grids and generation.
To assist utilities and large power users become more energy efficient and explore renewable energy options, African utility week has also teamed up with professional industry bodies for a varied series of free CPD-accredited technical workshops in electrical engineering, energy efficiency and renewable energy taking place on the expo floor.
The African utility week awards will furthermore celebrate the industry’s triumphs and successes throughout 2013 in nine award categories, ranging from Utility Executive of the Year to the Best Rural Electrification Project.
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