“We are excited to participate and engage with thousands of power professionals”

African Utility Week has announced that Power Africa, US President Barack Obama’s initiative to improve access to power in sub-Saharan Africa, will be the official country partner of the upcoming conference and expo from 12-14 May at the CTICC in Cape Town. The conference and expo bring together utility professionals from across the globe to learn, share knowledge and debate the key topics that will secure the future development of Africa’s power and water industries.

Power Africa works with African governments, the private sector, and other partners to add more than 30,000 megawatts (MW) of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity as well as increase electricity access by adding 60 million new home and business connections throughout all of sub-Saharan Africa.

The 15th African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa is expected to again attract more than 5000 attendees and feature 250 exhibitors, 190 speakers, eight conferences, free technical workshops on the expo floor, three high-profile plenary sessions and the coveted industry awards gala dinner.

Fitting to gather in Cape Town
Andrew Herscowitz, Coordinator for Power Africa, says: “President Obama launched Power Africa in Cape Town in late June 2013 and it is therefore fitting that we will gather and engage Africa in Cape Town in May, to talk about solutions and partnering with African utilities to connect Africa to the global grid.”

He adds:  “we are excited to participate and engage with thousands of power professionals from around the continent gathering at African Utility Week to discuss their shared challenges and how they can work together to improve the way Africans live and work.  We look forward to continuing to be part of this on-going conversation and making a difference in the African power sector.”

African Utility Week event director Evan Schiff says “African Utility Week is the right place for Power Africa to engage with stakeholders as there are strong synergies between our respective strategies on the continent. This is the only ‘in territory’ event, that Power Africa will be participating in, with US exhibitors supported by the US Commercial Services and Power Africa partners like USAID,OPIC, EXIM Bank, US Department of State, US Department of Energy and the Power Africa Private Partners. We therefore share a common goal with clear objectives.”

He continues: “African utilities have been gathering at African Utility Week for 15 years, engaging with their peers to find African solutions to African challenges in the power sector. International partners have participated in this conversation and added best of breed technology and financial solutions. Long term strategic partnerships between initiatives and organisations like Power Africa and African Utility Week therefore are in Africa’s interest.”

DNV-GL has already confirmed its exclusive diamond sponsorship of the event while Accenture, Building Energy, MarelliMotori, Rubbytad and Edison Power Group are the platinum sponsors.

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa dates and location:  
Exhibition & Conference: 12-14 May 2015
Industry awards: 13 May 2015
Site Visits: 15 May 2015
Location:  CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa
Website:  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
Spintelligent (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. Its regular global events and exhibitions, as well as its critical business intelligence and integrated marketing services make it a leader in its field. The company’s highly skilled resources in management, marketing, research and production allow for unique products bridging the developed and developing markets.

www.spintelligent.com 

“We are part of the industry and therefore perfectly placed to identify trends”

“We’re ready for this year and great things are already underway, from a new corporate identity that reflects where Spintelligent is going, to exciting new events that will be launched in the second half of this year”, says David Ashdown, Managing Director of Spintelligent Pty, the leading Cape Town-based publisher, trade exhibition and conference organizer in the power, mining, agriculture, defence and education sectors.

New identity reflects transformation
As of the beginning of 2015 the company boasts a revitalised corporate identity with new printed and electronic collateral, which Ashdown says “reflects the transformation that is taking place in the company and the new direction we have taken as we continue to evolve and redefine our business from the inside out, while remaining in touch with the industry to stay relevant, vital and innovative.”

Training Academy
Part of this growth is the new Spintelligent Training Academy that was established at the end of last year to address learning and development needs in the energy, utilities and mining industries on the African continent. Says David Ashdown: ”we are part of the industry and therefore perfectly placed to identify trends and gaps with regards to skills development. The Training Academy’s first courses have started and will give power professionals from South Africa, Ghana to Nigeria practical insights into and solutions to their daily challenges.”    

Busy first quarter & new events
A busy first quarter is already underway as the preparation for various upcoming flagship Spintelligent events is in full swing. These shows include the agriculture and mining expos in Zambia: Agritech Expo and CBM-TEC, both of which were launched with great success last year, will take place again in April and May in Chisamba and Kitwe this year.

“Then as part of our ongoing strategy to identify gaps in the market and broadening our audiences at existing strong shows”, says Spintelligent’s David Ashdown, “we are launching four new events in the second half of this year. The new Clean Power East Africa, Clean Power West Africa and the iPAD Power & Infrastructure Investment Forums in Uganda and Cameroon are all extensions of highly successful Spintelligent event franchises.”

Publishing
Spintelligent’s Publishing division has just launched the second edition of the “Most influential people in Africa’s power sector” publication, which features the most influential people who are shaping the power sector across the continent. This complements the “Most influential people in European Smart Grid” publication, which was launched late last year.

Says David Ashdown: “with 22 publications a year, this is a busy department, and we have an amazing team working to make our titles best in class, setting new standards in the power, metering, smart energy and mining publishing sectors.” 

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.
Web:  www.spintelligent.com

About Spintelligent
Spintelligent (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. Its regular global events and exhibitions, as well as its critical business intelligence and integrated marketing services make it a leader in its field. The company’s highly skilled resources in management, marketing, research and production allow for unique products bridging the developed and developing markets.

www.spintelligent.com
www.spintelligent.com/pages/detail/16472

Cape Town utility event to gather more than 5000 power professionals

Africa’s leading utility, energy and water professionals and projects are to be honoured again at the annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa that is taking place in Cape Town from 12-14 May this year.

Designed to celebrate the African triumphs and successes of the industry throughout 2014, the industry will be able to nominate candidates for ten award categories in the African Utility Week Industry Awards on 13 May, ranging from Utility Executive to Clean Energy Project of the Year and the new category of Outstanding Woman in Power/Water. The esteemed panel of judges that will decide on the winners includes Brian Dames, former Eskom CEO, Musara Beta, Chief Market Analyst, Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Zimbabwe and Peter Mtonda, Director of Distribution & Customer Services, ESCOM, Malawi.

Awards create excitement in industry
“It is gratifying to see how much excitement these awards have created in the industry” says African Utility Week event director Evan Schiff. He adds: “last year the sold-out, inaugural African Utility Week Industry Awards were the hot ticket of the event and a huge success. Needless to say, there is a lot of interest again from the utility sector to enter for the awards and to attend.”

Last year’s awards evening was attended by some 500 leading executives from across the power, water, renewable energy, finance and investment spheres, and was declared a long overdue addition to what is the largest utility gathering of its kind on the continent. African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa is attended by more than 5000 power and water professionals from more than 30 African countries and 70 worldwide.

“We remain an event for the industry and by the industry”, says Evan Schiff, “and invite all power professionals on the continent again to send us their nominations and we look forward to sharing their triumphs with their peers. Together we will honour those companies and executives who have been responsible for pioneering new frontiers, pushing boundaries, for inspiring others and for achieving growth for Africa.”  

The African Utility Week Industry Awards categories:
•  Lifetime Achievement Award
•  African Utility Executive of the Year
•  African Power Utility of the Year
•  African Water Utility of the Year
•  Municipality of the Year
•  Energy/Water Efficiency Project of the Year
•  Clean Energy Project of the Year
•  Collaboration of the Year Award
•  Outstanding Woman in Power/Water
•  African Community Project of the Year

Sponsorship opportunities
So far the leading industry technology and services providers Lucy Switchgear and Accenture have confirmed as award category sponsors, while Zest is hosting the champagne reception at the awards.  To enter an individual or company for the awards, please go to http://www.african-utility-week.com/awards To book a seat or table at the awards, click here.

The winners of last year’s African Utility Week Industry Awards were:
- Municipality of the Year: City of Cape Town
- Lifetime achievement: Dr Steve Lennon, Group Executive: Sustainability at Eskom
- Community project: Itron, South Africa African Collaboration: Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)
- Energy/Water Efficiency: City Power Solar Water Geyser Project in Johannesburg
- Clean Energy Project: The Makeni Project in Sierra Leone
- African Power Utility: Genesis Electricity Limited, Nigeria
- African Utility Executive: Cyprian Chitundu, Managing Director, ZESCO, Zambia
- African Water Utility: National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Uganda

Gathering thousands of energy professionals
For the past 14 years, the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition has helped to reduce the energy consumption of commercial and industrial large power users and has assisted in African utilities providing electricity and water to all of Africa. The event brings together thousands of utility professionals from across the globe to learn, share knowledge and debate the key topics that will secure the future development of Africa’s power industry. These include energy efficiency, improved service delivery, renewable energy and collaboration across the continent and investment in new power projects.

South Africa’s state utility Eskom has been a key partner for many years. DNV-GL has already confirmed its exclusive diamond sponsorship of the event while Accenture, Building Energy, MarelliMotori and Rubbytad are the platinum sponsors.

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa dates and location:
Exhibition & Conference: 12-14 May 2015
Industry awards: 13 May 2015
Site Visits: 15 May 2015
Location:  CTICC, Cape Town
Website:  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
Spintelligent (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. Its regular global events and exhibitions, as well as its critical business intelligence and integrated marketing services make it a leader in its field. The company’s highly skilled resources in management, marketing, research and production allow for unique products bridging the developed and developing markets.

Website: http://www.african-utility-week.com/pages/detail/16059
Website: www.spintelligent.com

Top tips for saving and celebrating a greener Christmas 

Load shedding is a fact of life for the foreseeable future in South Africa and a little planning and creativity can alleviate a lot of the unpleasantness during the holidays. This is according to Evan Schiff, event director of the annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and expo in Cape Town.

He says furthermore that higher electricity prices in South Africa have become an increasing strain on consumers’ monthly expenses and that “Christmas is a great time to introduce energy saving habits into a household as many easy and simple changes in the way we live can end up putting extra money into your pocket.”

Practical tips to plan for and cope with load shedding this holiday:
•    Be prepared, keep a regular eye on websites with information on load shedding schedules and print these out.  http://www.loadshedding.eskom.co.za/
•    Create a Whatsapp group for your neighbourhood and keep each other informed.
•    Make sure that there are enough candles, matches, torches, batteries and so forth for load shedding periods after dark.
•    Be ready for it! Make sure all cellphones, tablets, laptops and toys are fully charged before the lights go out. This way you can keep the kids entertained with a movie, or at least be able to use the phone.
•    Have fun activities ready for when the lights are off such as board games and family time around the barbeque.
•    Keep a gas burner as a back-up in the kitchen to be able to heat water and do essential cooking.   

An energy efficient holiday season
“There are a variety of ways we can use a lot less electricity this holiday season”, says Schiff, “such as using LED* Christmas lights which use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights. Consider investing in solar powered outdoor lights which can also be used on the Christmas tree and only come on at night.”

He continues: “up to 40% of all batteries are purchased during the holiday season so try to buy toys and gifts that don't use electricity or batteries. Gifts made of recycled material are also a great environmentally friendly gesture.”

More handy energy saving tips for the holiday season:
•    Don’t use the tumble dryer unnecessarily – it is summer, so take advantage of solar powered drying.
•    Turn off the room lights when the Christmas tree lights are on.
•    Set a timer to Christmas and outdoor lights to limit the time they are on.
•    Create a romantic and intimate atmosphere by using candles instead of lights.
•    Enjoy the weather and celebrate the holidays outside with a braai instead of cooking on a stove!  Or enjoy cold meats and salads during this summer season – it’s healthier and saves on power.
•    If you’re going away, turn off/ the geyser, empty and unplug the refrigerator.Advice for improving energy efficiency in your home during the year:
•    Invest in a geyser blanket. Unless the geyser is properly insulated, switching it off does not save electricity.
•    Insulate the roof to make the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter and thereby saving on seasonal heating and cooling.•    Switch off appliances at the wall plug when not in use.
•    Replace CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) bulbs with LED.
•    Use cold water to do laundry, it saves electricity and is better for the clothes.

Gathering thousands of energy professionals
For the past 14 years, the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition has helped to reduce the energy consumption of commercial and industrial large power users and has assisted in African utilities providing electricity and water to all of Africa. The event brings together thousands of utility professionals from across the globe to learn, share knowledge and debate the key topics that will secure the future development of Africa’s power industry. These include energy efficiency, improved service delivery, renewable energy, collaboration across the continent and investment in new power projects. South Africa’s state utility Eskom has been a key partner for many years.

The 15th edition of African Utility Week is expected to again attract more than 5000 attendees and feature 250 exhibitors, 190 speakers, eight conferences, free technical workshops on the expo floor, three high-profile plenary sessions and the coveted industry awards gala dinner. Stakeholders from across the industry and continent are represented, from Ministers of Energy through to power and water utilities, municipalities and regulators to investors and technology and service providers.  

Attending the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa exhibition is free when registering in advance and it showcases energy saving technologies and services for the industry and features hands-on demonstrations and workshops on the exhibition floor.

*LED=light-emitting diodes

Eskom’s 49M campaign encourages all South Africans to take the 49M pledge to save at least 10% electricity.  http://www.49m.co.za

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

The dates for next year’s African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are:  
Exhibition & Conference: 12-14 May 2015
Industry awards: 13 May 2015
Site Visits: 15 May 2015
Location:  CTICC, Cape Town
Website:  www.african-utility-week.com, www.clean-power-africa.com 

Contact for interviews:
Event director: Evan Schiff
Mobile: +27 83 415 3534
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.

www.african-utility-week.com/pages/detail/15725

5000+ power and water professionals to meet for 15th annual industry meeting

Regional collaboration in the power and water sectors, the untapped potential of renewable energy and investment challenges will be top of the agenda at the 15th African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition, returning to the CTICC in Cape Town from 12-14 May next year. The event is expected to again attract more than 5000 attendees and feature 250 exhibitors, 190 speakers, eight conferences, free technical workshops on the expo floor, three high-profile plenary sessions and the coveted industry awards gala dinner.The event brings together utility professionals from across the globe to learn, share knowledge and debate the key topics that will secure the future development of Africa’s power and water industries.

Africa is open for business
The new event director for African Utility Week Evan Schiff says: “Based on consultations with the industry, we have extended the conference and exhibition by an extra day, so we now offer three days of conference sessions, networking and an extra plenary session. The theme of our opening plenary session is: ‘Africa is open for business’. We have a few surprises up our sleeves in terms of keynote speakers and at this stage we can confirm that the Rockefeller Foundation’s Managing Director for Africa, Mr Mamadou Biteye, is part of our high-level line-up.”

He continues: “our most important aim is to remain relevant by providing the best industry insight and knowledge to attendees. To ensure we are plugged in to the most up to date information, we work very closely with leading and pioneering individuals and companies in the sector. Our high-level advisory board is a veritable who’s who of the power and water industries and our conference and technical workshop programmes reflect this with topical, up-to-date discussions and presentations.”     

Industry challenges
With regards to challenges in the industry, the African Utility Week director says “there is a growing need for regional collaboration: establishing a regulatory framework for the entire region and cross-border power supplies and exchanges. Furthermore, there is vast untapped potential in solar PV, wind, and geothermal that can be used as power generation sources.”

Another major challenge is access to finance for investment in energy projects and infrastructure development. To address the calls for more information on this key sector, African Utility Week 2015 presents a new Finance & Investment conference track that will create a unique forum for utilities, governments and project developers to meet with international, regional, local and alternative financiers to explore new opportunities arising from the utility industry, address relevant challenges, and answer some of the thorny funding questions. It will have the objective of encouraging funding and revenue inflows into the utility sector by engaging leading decision makers on the global finance and investment arena.

Industry buy-in
Eskom is again the host utility for the event, Cape Town the host city while the event also enjoys the support of professional industry bodies such as the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE), the Power Institute for East and Southern Africa (PIESA) and Southern Africa Asset Management Association (SAAMA).

Big suppliers of technology and services to the sector have also already signed up as high-profile partners at the event, including global player DNV GL as exclusive diamond sponsor, while Accenture, Building Energy, MarelliMotori and Rubbytad are the four platinum sponsors.  

CEO Forum
The invitation-only Utility CEO Forum is the only African forum where C-level executives from Africa's leading utilities come together to discuss pressing topics within the industry and to accelerate cross-border collaboration, development plans and the advancement of regional centres of excellence throughout Africa. Utility executives from countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa are expected to return.

Awards – Outstanding Woman in Power
The inaugural African Utility Week Industry Awards last year were a sold-out success with companies and individuals in the power and water industry honoured in categories ranging from Lifetime Achievement, Municipality of the Year to Clean Energy Project of the Year. For the 2015 event there will be a total of ten categories, with a new category that has been added, namely Outstanding Woman in Power.

Attending the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa exhibition is free when registering in advance and it showcases energy saving technologies and services for the industry and features hands-on demonstrations and CPD-accredited technical workshops on the exhibition floor. Log on to www.african-utility-week.com for free registration.

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are organised by Spintelligent, the African office of Clarion Events Ltd which is based in the UK. It has become recognised as a highly successful African event organiser and publisher, with flagship projects in the power, mining, agriculture, defence and education sectors such as African Utility Week, West African Power Industry Convention, African EduWeek, Agritech-Expo, Land Forces Africa and the iPAD infrastructure and mining event franchise.

Dates for African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa 2015:
Conference and expo: 12-14 May 2015
Awards gala dinner:  13 May 2015
Site visits: 15 May 2015
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa
Websites: www.african-utility-week.com and www.clean-power-africa.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities
Linkedin: African Power Forum

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.

August 31, 2014 Intertek Sub-Saharan Africa promotes Management System Integration Johannesburg, South Africa

Intertek, a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide, hosted a Management System Solution symposium in Johannesburg  from 21-22 August 2014, addressing management system challenges and integration.  

Integrated management systems can be implemented by organizations in any sector and of any size. Organizations may consider this step to lower costs and simplify their maturing management systems by fully or partially integrating the requirements of different audit criteria with a single set of documentation, policies, procedures and processes.  Integrated audits can bring many benefits to your organization, such as lower certification costs, fewer interruptions to the organization, reduced documentation, streamlined processes, and more consistent objectives across multiple systems.  

The symposium included presentations by industry specialists, who addressed the benefits and practicalities of integrating multiple management systems, as well as individuals who had been involved in the integration of multiple management systems within their companies.  The event also featured professionals who currently serve on the international committee developing the new ISO 9001: 2015 revision, and who are actively involved in the review of the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 international standards.  

The proposed changes to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, prior to their expected release in mid-2015, as well as the impact of the High Level Structure on the ISO range of standards was of great interest to attendees. Delegates were also provided with the opportunity to engage in working group sessions which addressed generic global and local non-conformances as well as those specific to the SHEQ, CSR and Food schemes.

Intertek will continue to keep the sub-Saharan marketplace abreast of the changes affecting management systems, and to provide solutions to their clients in this area.  Changes to the standards will not only have an effect on management systems, but also on auditing services. Intertek ensures that all of their auditors are trained on the updates to these management system standards in order to provide the highest quality service to the industry.  

Intertek Services (Pty) Ltd currently provides integrated auditing solutions and certification for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 standards as well as a variety of Corporate Social Responsibility programmes, as well as training on the implementation and auditing on these standards for industry.  

For further information and business opportunities please contact:

Charlene Holm
Key Accounts Manager,
Business Assurance
Intertek Services PTY Ltd,
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 396 1101
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    

Amanda Pienaar
Key Accounts Manager,
Life Sciences (Food and Pharmaceuticals)
Intertek Services PTY Ltd,
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 396 1101
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

Adele Krogh
Key Accounts Manager,
Intertek Academy
Intertek Services PTY Ltd,
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 396 1101
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

Media Contacts
Bridget Day
Media & Marketing Manager,
Intertek Services PTY Ltd,
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 396 1101
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.     

About Intertek
Intertek is a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide.  From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value for its customers by helping improve the quality and safety of their products, assets and processes.  With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 36,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in the global marketplace, by helping customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. 
Visit www.intertek.com 

In recent times, the cost of fuel has become astronomic with far reaching implications for all. Shipping costs have risen and so has the cost of living as a result. At the root of it is the cost of fuel as the common denominator. Fuel is now "liquid gold" on a whole new level.

Shipping companies have done what is possible to mitigate such costs through intelligent routing and economising through better vehicle choices in an effort to reduce the ever growing operating costs while also looking at ways of keeping abreast of international pressures to reduce their carbon footprint. At the end of the day, the consumer ultimately pays.

It is a fact that the more expensive fuel becomes at the pump, the more valuable it becomes to firstly, potential thieves and opportunists, and secondly its safeguarding with checks and balances to monitor its usage.

Director, Charl Hoole of Velisa Agencies says, "We have been closely involved with trucking companies and others who use a lot of fuel both as a service provider to them and also as a company that does distribution using their services, and we see it all the time, executives are stressed out! Their directors are looking at the bottom line and demanding a lower fuel bill, lower emissions and better control mechanisms. What we do is address all of these issues for them... radically make an impact which is statistically verified".

Hoole goes on to say, "We have dealt with the biggest and the best out there and more than 90% of them do not have proper systems in place for monitoring fuel usage or preventing theft. Worse still, ask them for a running average fuel consumption on a vehicle over a month and it is at best, a guess, even when they outsource to contractors they are often billed double the actual fuel usage amount... we had such a case this year with a Blue Chip logistics concern at the Durban harbour. With our two core products, Diesel Guard and Naf-Tech, we get stuck in and assist to the last drop!".

Being aware of products out in the market to reduce fuel consumption, theft and emissions, has become a neccessity in our modern business environment. To ignore the usage of your liquid gold is fatal, if not wreckless. Velisa Agencies will gladly assist clients with recommendations both in South Africa and other SADC states.

Contact details:

Charl Hoole,
Director and logistics specialist
Tel: 046-6481089
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Velisa Agencies CC
Tel: 046-6481089
www.velisa.co.za

Further recognition of the City Lodge Hotel Group’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility

Johannesburg, June 27, 2014

The City Lodge Hotel brand within the City Lodge Hotel Group has been certified  by the Green Leaf™ Eco  Standard, acknowledging the significant improvements that have been made in the important areas of energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste management, responsible procurement and staff and guest awareness of environmental responsibility issues.

While the certification  initially applies only to the City Lodge Hotel brand, the group has largely implemented the same technology and procedures in its Courtyard Hotel, Town Lodge and Road Lodge brands.  Green Leaf™ Eco Standard is an initiative of the Wilderness Foundation, aimed at enabling and certifying the balance between business and nature.

Over the past three years, the City Lodge Hotel Group has rolled out a group-wide energy efficiency initiative across all four of its brands with the emphasis focused on the installation of LED lighting (around 40,000 bulbs) and heat pumps and the monitoring and reduction of energy consumption. The group is also a member of Eskom’s 49M energy efficiency campaign which commits partners to a 15% reduction in electricity usage.

Concerted efforts also focused on water efficiency and responsible waste management 

More recently, the group has embarked on a water efficiency programme across the City Lodge Hotel brand, focusing on efficient flow technology on shower heads and taps, dual-flush toilets and the re-using of towels.  The intention is to roll this out across the other three brands.

Attention has also gone into improving waste management as part of the certification  for the City Lodge Hotel brand. This has included the separation of different types of waste on site, the transport of waste to recycling centres and the transport of non-recyclable waste to landfill sites

.According to Clifford Ross, the group’s CEO, “We’re proud of achieving this latest certification  as it recognises the serious attention we have paid to reducing our carbon footprint and maximizing our effective use of electricity and water and responsible disposal of recyclable and non-recyclable waste,” said Ross. 

“Standards for responsible tourism have also been incorporated into the certification  we have received, further demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility in our operations,” he added.Andrew Phillips, CEO of Green Leaf™ Eco Standard said: “I have had the pleasure of witnessing the leadership group of City Lodge initiate a responsible tourism mind-set change throughout its hotel brands and to now formally sign-off on core certification under the Green Leaf™ Eco Standard certification programme is recognition well deserved.”    

Significantly, City Lodge’s Green Leaf certification  ideally complements the City Lodge Earth Day initiative, which was launched on social media platforms at the beginning of June.The core message of this campaign is that every day is Earth Day. The pay-off line is “no planet no you; no you, no us.”Marketing collateral is being developed to communicate this messaging to guests within hotels enabling them to participate in the campaign in a practical way.

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa has come of age as a truly pan-African event, by the industry and for the industry, with continent-wide collaboration and celebration to produce the best of Africa, says programme director Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl. She adds: “this year’s gathering at the CTICC in Cape Town had just over 5000 registered attendees from 76 countries, of which 30 African, 1100 delegates, 240 exhibitors, 190 speakers, nine conference tracks, and with a high profile opening session and an industry awards gala dinner it was the biggest event yet in our 14 year history.”

Eskom’s Group Executive Transmission, Mongezi Ntsokolo, lead the high-level panel of experts during the opening session, which included Agnes Dasewicz of the USAID’s Power Africa Initiative and NERSA CEO Phindile Balendi. Other leading delegates and experts who were at the event included Reynolds Dagogo-Jack, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power in Nigeria, Robert Kisubi, Stakeholder Manager at Umeme in Uganda and the World Bank’s water development expert Diego Rodrigues.

Utility industry is maturing
African Utility Week’s Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl says “the focus for 2014 covered the vision for a sustainable African utility sector including topics around the restructuring and privatisation of the Nigeria power sector, delving into what is required to improve the financial viability of water utilities, and the growing concern around the need for water-energy-food nexus initiatives.”

She continues: “it is evident from the frank presentations delivered by industry leaders and through the open conversations during the networking functions that the utility industry is maturing in Africa. This market is the frontier for development and is not willing to copy current formulas without exploring and thoroughly researching solutions that fit the environment.”

African Utility Week Awards
The sold out, inaugural African Utility Week Awards were the hot ticket of the event where the City of Cape Town was named top municipality. Other Awards included best African Power Utility, won by Genesis Electricity Limited of Nigeria; Zambian ZESCO’s MD Cyprian Chitundu was named African Utility Executive of the Year, Uganda’s NWSC won best African Water Utility and Johannesburg’s City Power won the Energy/Water Efficiency award.

CEO Forum
The invitation-only Utility CEO Forum was attended by CEOs and high-level utility executives from countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and particularly focused on short-term, technical wins that utilities can implement. In addition, the discussions examined how utilities manage human capital, the on-going challenges of financing power projects and where utilities can take action to mitigate against finance risk.  The two day meeting was accompanied by time for interaction and networking between the various utility CEOs, and continues to build on the relationships founded at last year’s inaugural meeting.

Expo and free workshops
Some 240 exhibitors displayed the latest technology and services in the industry disciplines of metering, clean power, water, large power users, investment and finance, transmission & distribution, smart grids and generation. Leading local and global names that were there included Accenture, Edison Power Group, Marelli Motori and Yingli Solar.

To assist utilities and large power users become more energy efficient and explore renewable energy options, African Utility Week 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 that took place on the expo floor. Dozens of delegates also attended site visits to see applications of new technologies and services in action at utility energy and water facilities, industrial premises and companies around Cape Town.

Some feedback from satisfied exhibitors and attendees at African Utility Week:

-    “I congratulate the team on a successful 14th African Utility Week and know the quality and standard will be maintained in years to come.”- Joshua Mgeyekwa, Managing Director, Tanga UWSSA, Tanzania

-    “Having had an opportunity to serve on the Advisory Board for African Utility Week and attend the conference and exhibition enabled me to interact with colleagues, exchange cutting edge technology and appreciate how others deal with both challenges and opportunities in energy.” - David Otwoma, Chief Science Secretary, National Commission for Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and Chairman, Eastern Africa Association for Radiation Protection, Kenya

-    “I was very impressed with the level of service and staff calibre representing the conference organisers. There was always someone available to help and no problem was too difficult to solve. I look forward to working with you again.” - Chris Haw, Managing Director, Solar Future Energy, South Africa

-    “It was a pleasure and I enjoyed the interactions and opportunities for discussion with colleagues from other areas. Compliments to you all on an extremely well-run conference.” -Peter Flower, Director: Water & Sanitation, Utility Services Directorate, City of Cape Town, South Africa

-    “African Utility Week continues to improve and was the best yet. This has turned into a world class event where one gets to network with important role players and key decision makers. We will definitely be back next year.“ - Dean Pratt, General Manager Africa, MarelliMotori, South Africa – platinum sponsors

-    “Many thanks for giving me a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the AUW. It was indeed a most noteworthy experience for me and I look forward to collaborating very closely with AUW in the near future... You guys are an amazing team. And it was really a great experience...” - Ifeoma Malo, Special Assistant on Energy Policy, Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria

-    “It was a pleasure seeing you again and participating in African Utility Week. You guys did a great job in organizing this massive event. We look forward to the next one.” - Andrea Orzan, Business Development Director Africa, SunEdison

-    “The event is very informative and interesting and I recommend it to anyone in the profession to attend”. - Abiud Kaura, Senior Manager, Nampower, Namibia

-    “Thank you for hosting such a great conference. We enjoyed the focus days, the main conference tracks and the CEO forum. Thank you also for looking after us so well. We achieved what we set out to and would like to build on this going forward. We would like to discuss some future collaboration, especially along the clean energy side.” - Michelle T Davies, Head Partner for Clean Energy Projects, Eversheds – gold sponsors and award winners.

Dates for next year’s African Utility Week:
Conference and expo: 12-13 May 2015
Focus days: 11 May 2015
Site visits: 14 May 2015
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Websites: www.african-utility-week.com and www.clean-power-africa.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities
Linkedin: African Power Forum

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.

“Important to look at African solutions for Africa and we are making great progress”

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 conference and expo at Cape Town’s CTICC from 13-14 May. 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 continues: “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 efficiencies.”

Expo and free workshops
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 & 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.

Programme and speaker highlights include:

Opening keynote session:
Panel discussion: The changing African utility landscape – adaptation for longevity
Smarter technologies, increasing customer engagement and the quest for sustainability
• Agnes Dasewicz, Director of USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa. USA
• Ger Bergkamp, Executive Director, International Water Association, Belgium
• Frans Vreeswijk, Secretary General & Chief Executive Officer, IEC, Switzerland
• Phindile Baleni, Chief Executive Officer, National Energy Regulator South Africa, South Africa
• Ayanda Nakedi, Senior General Manager, Renewables Business Unit, Eskom, South Africa

Metering
Lessons learnt from Lesotho’s roll out
• Seitlheko Muhlomi, Metering Manager, Lesotho Electricity Company, Lesotho
Ugandan case study on strides taken to reduce non-technical losses with ABC re-conducting
• Robert Mubiru, Projects Manager, UMEME, Uganda

Water
Realising Africa’s development agenda and the Water-Energy-Food nexus
- Panel dialogue moderator: Paul Yillia, Consultant, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), Austria

Panellists:
• Peter Flower, Director Water & Sanitation, City of Cape Town, South Africa
• Silver Mugisha, Managing Director, National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Uganda
• Diego Juan Rodriguez, Senior Economist: Water Partnership Programme Manager, World Bank, USA
• Oliver Johnson, Research Fellow Sustainable Energy, Stockholm Environment Institute Africa Centre, Kenya
• Nandha Govender, General Manager: Water & Environmental Operations, Eskom, South Africa
• Henry Coppens, Technical Specialist, Energy & Emission, Sappi, South Africa

Large Power Users
Debate on carbon tax: Examine global practices, mitigation opportunities and potential alternative solutions to taxes

Sustainable cities - working with private sector
• Sarah Ward, Head Energy and Climate Change, Environmental Resource Management Department, City of Cape Town, South Africa

Case study: Airport implementation of an Energy Management System
• Jerusha Joseph, Engineer: Mechanical, Airports Company South Africa, South Africa

Smart Grids, Transmission & Distribution
Panel Discussion: Addressing the backlog in the ageing infrastructure
Moderator: Anton Booyzen, South African Asset Management Association, President, South Africa
• Peter Mtonda, Director Distribution, Escom, Malawi
• Gerhard Myburgh, Transmission Asset Manager, Nampower, Namibia

Distribution: Tunisian case study on the MALT rural electrification system
• Jamil Korked, Deputy General Manager, STEG International, Tunisia

Clean energy hybrid mini-grids in remote areas: an investment opportunity
• Dean Cooper, Energy Finance Programme Manager, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), France

Hydropower
Developments beyond 2014 at Grand Inga
• Hon Minister Bruno Kapandji Kalala, Minister of Water Resources and Electricity, Democratic Republic of Congo

Cameroon’s expanding hydro potentials
• Pierre Edimo, President of the Technical Committee for Rehabilitation of State and Parastatal Enterprises, Ministry of Finance, Cameroon

Solar
South Africa’s first utility-scale solar plant goes online - successes and challenges
• Raymond Carlsen, CEO, Scatec Solar, South Africa

Fact not fiction: the true potential of solar revealed
• Wikus van Niekerk, Director, Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Frank Dinter, Eskom Chair in CSP, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Wind
The importance of turbine maintenance and training staff to do it
• Dieter Sommer, Senior Training Manager, South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC), South Africa

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.african-utility-week.com ; www.clean-power-africa.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
Spintelligent (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.

Its regular global events and exhibitions, as well as its critical business intelligence and integrated marketing services make it a leader in its field. The company’s highly skilled resources in management, marketing, research and production allow for unique products bridging the developed and developing markets.
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