“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 industry
African 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 systems
Fana Nhlapho, Technical and Training Manager, Lucy Electric
•  Online condition assessment of medium voltage networks
John Sherriff, Sales and Service Director, Martec
•  Special bonding in high voltage cables and introduction to large conductor
Pravesh Haripersad, General Manager: Power Installations, CBI Electric:
African Cables
•  Set up and configure a Wireless M receiver for reading smart water meters
Petrus 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 accessories
Aad van Oosten, Technical Director: Tank Services, CBI Electric
•  Pulse closing – a new fault-testing technology
Roger Marin, Managing Member, EBM
•  Secure remote access
Tertius Hyman, Technology Engineering (Control Plant), Eskom
•  Operational impact of integrating renewable energy within the Western Cape
Naniki Lukhele, Network Optimisation Senior Engineer, Eskom
•  Energy management using cloud technology
Doug Young, Director, Electric Assemblies
•  Engineering data retrieval
Meenal Vala, Project Engineer, Eskom
•  Energy management Standards and systems
Alf Hartzenburg., Senior Project Manager, National Cleaner Production Centre of SA

CEO Forum
Confirmed 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 2014
Focus day:  12 May 2014
Site visits:  15 May 2014
Location:  CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa
Website:  www.clean-power-africa.com  ; www.african-utility-week.com

Contact:
Communications manager:  Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone :  +27 21 700 3558
Mobile:  +27 82 562 7844
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Notes for Editor
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