“South Africa Inc. is at a critical juncture in our development as a country”African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa have joined forces with the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) to host two days of free, practical, CPD-accredited technical workshops on the event’s expo floor for all electrical engineers, technicians and contractors working in the power and water industry.  The award winning 14th African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and expo is taking place at the CTICC in Cape Town from 13-14 May 2014. It is attended by more than 5000 power and water professionals from more than 30 African countries and 70 worldwide, at what is the largest utility gathering of its kind on the continent. Discussions, workshops, exhibits and site visits will focus on the industry disciplines of metering, clean power, water, large power users, investment and finance, transmission & distribution, smart grids and generation.  The SAIEE has grown to a membership of over 6000 professionals engaged in the full range of electrical engineering and related activities including academic research, manufacturing, electronics, telecommunications, measurement and control, mining, and power infra-structural services.Is this the future that we want for ourselves?Andre Hoffmann, SAIEE Senior Vice President says: “South Africa Inc. is at a critical juncture in our development as a country, having achieved much in political emancipation since 1994. However, we remain critically poised on a fine balance that may tip us economically and send us spiraling towards a more unpleasant future.”He continues: “the vision of a South Africa that has degenerated into a chaotic state of civil strife precipitated by degrading service delivery infrastructure should be frightening enough to jolt us out of our complacency. Is this the future that we want for ourselves, our children and grandchildren?”According to SAIEE’s Andre Hoffmann: “South Africa is not an island. It exists in a globally competitive environment and its infrastructure that supports the economy cannot be left to degenerate without affecting our medium and long term sustainability as a country.”  He explains: “there is little point in refining and perfecting our specialised disciplines if ‘Rome’ is burning. Let’s fix the problem, let’s set a course for a future that we all actually want to live in and then we can go back to business as usual.”Relevant programme for industryAfrican Utility Week’s partnership with the SAIEE is part of a wider strategy to involve professional industry organisations in the conference and technical training workshops to remain a relevant event for and by the industry.  Andre Hoffmann:  “Technology does not exist in isolation of society, it is developed and implemented to benefit society and it continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Delegates to the African Utility Week need to use the opportunity to build and strengthen their professional networks and appreciation of the new developments in the various technologies available to them.”  He adds: “furthermore I believe that a concerted effort needs to be made in lobbying with government and policy makers to reinforce the role of the trained and competent professional engineer or technologist in capacitating government utilities to run effectively and sustainably over the expected economic life-cycle of the investment.”The Electrical Engineering Workshops at African Utility Week, hosted by the SAIEE, will include:•  Maintenance: protection and automation in electrical distribution systemsFana Nhlapho, Technical and Training Manager, Lucy Electric•  Online condition assessment of medium voltage networksJohn Sherriff, Sales and Service Director, Martec•  Special bonding in high voltage cables and introduction to large conductorPravesh Haripersad, General Manager: Power Installations, CBI Electric:African Cables•  Set up and configure a Wireless M receiver for reading smart water metersPetrus van Heerden, Country Manager, Kamstrup•  What engineering obstacles need to be solved to deploy a successful smart grid?Lungile Mginqi and Steve Apps (Pr Eng), Smart Grid Leadership, Accenture•  Medium voltage accessoriesAad van Oosten, Technical Director: Tank Services, CBI Electric•  Pulse closing – a new fault-testing technologyRoger Marin, Managing Member, EBM•  Secure remote accessTertius Hyman, Technology Engineering (Control Plant), Eskom•  Operational impact of integrating renewable energy within the Western CapeNaniki Lukhele, Network Optimisation Senior Engineer, Eskom•  Energy management using cloud technologyDoug Young, Director, Electric Assemblies•  Engineering data retrievalMeenal Vala, Project Engineer, Eskom•  Energy management Standards and systemsAlf Hartzenburg., Senior Project Manager, National Cleaner Production Centre of SACEO ForumConfirmed attendance from a variety of utility CEOs will add to the discussions at African Utility Week as the annual CEO Forum brings together top representatives from Eskom, the Ugandan Electricity Generation Company, Eko Distribution Company, Senelec and Nampower.  This forum, which brings together utility CEOs to collaborate on the development of the sector, starts with a dinner on Monday 12 May and discussion sessions include insights into the Power Africa Initiative and the role of ‘smart’ in utilities.Event dates and location:Conference and Exhibition (including workshops):  13-14 May 2014Focus day:  12 May 2014Site visits:  15 May 2014Location:  CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa Website:  www.clean-power-africa.com  ; www.african-utility-week.com Contact:Communications manager:  Annemarie RoodbolTelephone :  +27 21 700 3558Mobile:  +27 82 562 7844Email:  annemarie.roodbol@clarionevents.comNotes for EditorSpintelligent (Pty) Ltd is an African media business, specialising in Exhibitions, Conferences and Publishing. Head-quartered in Cape Town with a team of 90 experienced professionals, Spintelligent is a dynamic and recognised organiser across multiple industry sectors and geographies. A specialist organiser with the ability to deliver key growth projects in the early emerging markets of the African continent. Spintelligent is the African partner office of Clarion Events Ltd, the UK based organiser operating in 36 countries worldwide with 9 subsidiary offices delivering over 500 exhibitions and conferences annually.Spintelligent delivers projects in African growth industry sectors; Power & Utilities; Energy; Mining; Education & Careers; Agriculture; Infrastructure; Military & Defence. Spintelligent delivers projects in the emerging African markets; South Africa; Nigeria; Ghana; Kenya; Tanzania; DRC; Angola; Mozambique; Zambia.Spintelligent is recognised for its print and electronic publications, with market-leading brands including Metering International, ESI Africa and Mining Review Africa. 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