Energy expert Ted Blom on explosive energy week in South Africa: “Cape Town needs to cut a deal with Eskom for more affordable desalination”
Independent energy expert Ted Blom, speaker and advisory board member at African Utility Week in Cape Town in May shares his views on several developments this week in the energy sector including the appointment of the new Eskom board, appearance of two Eskom executives before the Parliamentary enquiry, Brian Molefe’s court judgement, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement about nuclear power and the Cape Town water crisis. The interview was done by ESI Africa editor Nicolette Pombo-Van Zyl:
Click here for the full interview with Ted Blom.
Award-winning energy platform The 18th annual African Utility Week will gather over 7000 decision makers from more than 80 countries to discuss the challenges, solutions and successes in the power, energy and water sectors on the continent. Along with multiple side events and numerous networking functions the event also boasts a seven track conference with over 300 expert speakers. The conference programme will address the latest challenges, developments and opportunities in the power and water sectors: ranging from generation, T&D, metering, technology and water.
The African Utility Week expo offers an extensive technical workshop programme that are CPD accredited, free to attend, hands-on presentations that take place in defined spaces on the exhibition floor. They discuss practical, day-to-day technical topics, best practices and product solutions that businesses, large power users and utilities can implement in their daily operations.
Industry support
Already the event has secured support from leading industry players including Landis+Gyr, Hexing South Africa as platinum sponsors while water expert company Sensus is a gold sponsor. African Utility Week is the flagship energy event organised by the multi-award winning Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and part of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK. Other well-known energy events by Spintelligent are Future Energy Nigeria and Future Energy East Africa.
In 2017, African Utility Week was named the joint winner for the AAXO Award for Best Trade Exhibition 6001-12000 sqm category (with the World Travel Market). Co-located to African Utility Week is another AAXO award winner for best confex, the African Real Estate & Infrastructure Summit, an international platform that brings together the full spectrum of the African real estate and infrastructure sectors.
Dates for African Utility Week:
Conference and expo: 15-17 May 2018
Awards gala dinner: 16 May 2018
Site visits: 18 May 2018
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa
Website: http://www.african-utility-week.com & www.african-real-estate-summit.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities #AUW2018
Linkedin: African Utility Week
Contact:
Senior 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.
Addressing Cyber Security.
As the pace of digital transformation increases, so does the frequency of high profile security incidents and information leaks. This often prompts complex and costly responses, as those who have suffered security breaches – and those who are trying to avoid them – seek ways to manage their exposures and comply with a plethora of industry standards, best practices and government regulations.
Joint silver sponsors at the 6th IT Leaders Africa Summit, SLVA and Ubusha will explore the mechanisms you could use to ensure a secure information-processing environment during their workshop presented by Kris Budnik, Managing Director for SLVA Information Security.
Attendees will hear how they can maximise existing capabilities and leverage the emerging wave of enterprise security technologies that tip the balance away from cyber-criminals and dishonest employees.
SLVA and Ubusha’s holistic response to minimising information security risks requires the ability to:
-Understand and manage who has access to information and systems within your environment and what they are able to do with such access
-Track and have the capability to influence the way that data is accessed, processed and shared within your environment
-Maintain oversight over that environment – ensuring that it remains reliable and free from vulnerabilities which may be exploited to bypass your access control and data governance policies
Please note that the cut off date for applications to present a workshop at the IT Leaders Africa Summit is the 27th of February 2015.
During these 60 minute educational workshops, leading industry vendors present their solutions and services in case study format to attending CIOs and IT Heads. Each session is limited to 15 delegates in order to encourage debate and discussion. The workshops are scheduled in advance as the topics are marketed to CIOs and business leaders during the build up to the Summit.
For IT Leaders Africa Summit brochure advertising opportunities, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The 6th IT Leaders Africa Summit takes place on 18 & 19 March 2015 at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.
US President Barack Obama’s Power Africa initiative joins African Utility Week as country partner in Cape Town in May
“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
Africa’s top utility projects and power professionals honoured at African Utility Week in May
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
Continent’s energy and water leaders join forces to discuss challenges and celebrate successes at annual African Utility Week in Cape Town in May
“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.
www.spintelligent.com
