Nominations are open for top industry professionals and projects  

“I know the energy revolution is powering up and ready to take off. We should embrace energy trade with each other”.  With these words Mr Kandeh Yumkella, UN Under-Secretary-General and Former Special Representative of the Secretary-General and CEO, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All), accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s African Utility Week Industry Awards.

The fourth edition of the annual African Utility Week Industry Awards will once again honour pioneering utilities, projects and people in the energy and water industry on the continent on Wednesday, 17 May, during African Utility Week and Energy Revolution Africa at the CTICC in Cape Town. Award categories vary from the Power and Water Utility of the Year Awards, Young Energy Leader Award and Outstanding Woman of the Year: Power/Water and include exciting new categories to reflect the latest developments and evolution of the energy and water sectors.  The new categories include:
•   Small-Scale Sustainable Energy Project (under 5MW)
•   Innovative Technology of the Year
•   Deal of the Year
•   ICT Excellence Award
•   Gas-to-Power Project of the Year

Benchmark of excellence
These prestigious industry awards will be presented during a gala dinner welcoming 800 of Africa’s most distinguished power and water industry professionals to recognise those that represent a benchmark of excellence for the industry. Entries for nominations for the awards close on 17 March and the public is invited to nominate themselves or colleagues and projects that have made outstanding contributions to the energy and water sectors.

Johannesburg’s City Power, George Airport and Akon Lighting Africa were also amongst the exciting and pioneering power and water professionals, utilities and projects that were winners at last year’s sold-out awards gala evening, while Uganda’s NWSC won the coveted Water Utility of the Year Award for the third  year in a row.

2017 Award Categories:
Individual Awards:  

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual for prolonged and consistent achievements who has made a significant contribution to the development and future of the energy/water industries during his or her career.   The nominee can be from a utility, public or private company and should be someone who has helped to achieve strategic advancement of the sectors by proactively sharing knowledge, encouraging the adoption of new technologies or establishing exemplary financial governance practices. This individual is well recognised across the globe for their influence and insight to the energy or water sectors in Africa.  

Outstanding Contribution Award: Power
This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position from a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the power industry, while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success.  

Outstanding Contribution Award: Water This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position from a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the water industry while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success.  

Outstanding Woman of the Year: Power/Water     
This award celebrates a woman in the power/water industries for outstanding achievements who has made a contribution to and impact on the sector, whether from a utility, public or private company.      

Young Energy Leader Award
This award recognises a person under the age of 35 from a public or private company who has made an outstanding contribution to the energy/water sectors. This young professional has had commendable career achievements to date and is already playing a leading role in their sector.  

Organisational / Project Awards:  

Power Utility of the Year
This award recognises a power utility in Africa that has excelled in any one or more of the following fields: Service delivery, project roll-out, technology roll-out, revenue protection measures, loss reduction, grid integration and new energy sources, including company contribution to sector growth, demonstrated expenditure reduction, increased capacity to deliver services and revenue collection, completion of infrastructure development or sustainable maintenance projects.  

Water Utility of the Year
This award recognises a water utility in Africa that excels in any one or more of the following: Service delivery, project roll-out, technology roll-out, revenue protection measures, loss reduction, water quality and sanitation solutions, including company contribution to sector growth, demonstrated expenditure reduction, increased capacity to deliver services and revenue collection, completion of infrastructure development or sustainable maintenance projects.  

Large Scale Renewable Energy Project (10MW +)
This award is for a project completed by an African utility, off-grid producer, IPP, government or investor.  

Small-Scale Sustainable Energy Project (under 5MW) – NEW CATEGORY

This award is for a connected sustainable energy project providing electricity for either a commercial or rural electrification setting.  

Innovative Technology of the Year – NEW CATEGORY This award will acknowledge a business that has achieved commercial success from energy-focused advanced technology, research or developing products, services, or solutions relevant to the energy sector.  

Deal of the Year – NEW CATEGORY
This category will recognise an outstanding energy deal which reached financial closure between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2016.  

ICT Excellence Award – NEW CATEGORY
The ICT Excellence Award provides a platform to recognise utilities from across Africa that have utilised ICT technology to improve the lives of all its customers as well as the citizens of the country. The award aims to promote successful deployment and application of innovative ICT solutions and services that have contributed improvements in service delivery and utility efficiency.  

Gas-to-Power Project of the Year – NEW CATEGORY
The gas-to-power project of the year award launches in 2017 to recognise those companies who are not only pioneers in the gas to power space but also those who, through innovation and creativity, have contributed to the commercial and industrial development of the country in which they operate and have had a positive societal impact.   For further information on the awards please visit http://www.african-utility-week.com/industryawards  

Leading water and energy platform
African Utility Week takes place from 16-18 May 2017 at the CTICC in Cape Town, gathering over 7000 decision makers in the power and water sectors from more than 40 countries to source the latest solutions and meet over 300 suppliers. The expo will feature free to attend technical workshops and technology demonstrations. The event has won the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) award for the Best Trade Exhibition 6001-12000 sqm category.

KPMG is diamond sponsor
Already leading global advisory firm KPMG has confirmed that it is returning to African Utility Week, this time as its exclusive diamond sponsorship. Other long-running supporters and industry stalwarts EPG, Landis+Gyr, Ontec and Shell are also back as platinum sponsors while Conlog, Oracle, SAP and Vodacom are gold sponsors again.

Part of the event is Energy Revolution Africa, a new platform for community scale projects, which will provide a unique forum for solution providers to meet with the new energy purchasers such as metros and municipalities, IPPs, rural electrification project developers and large power users, including mines, commercial property developers and industrial manufacturers.

African Utility Week and Energy Revolution Africa are organised by Spintelligent, a multi-award-winning exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the infrastructure, real estate, energy, mining, agriculture and education sectors. Other well-known events by Spintelligent include Agritech Expo Tanzania, CBM-TEC, Kenya Mining Forum, Future Energy East Africa (formerly EAPIC), Future Energy Nigeria (formerly WAPIC), Future Energy Central Africa (formerly iPAD Cameroon), iPAD Nigeria Mining Forum, DRC Mining Week and EduWeek. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group.

Dates for African Utility Week and Energy Revolution Africa:
Conference and expo: 16-18 May 2017
Awards gala dinner:  17 May 2016
Site visits: 19 May 2016
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa
Websites: http://www.african-utility-week.com    
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities   
Linkedin: African Power Forum

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.

“Drought has exposed the poor, or lack of, water management”  

“The drought that has impacted many regions within South Africa for a considerable length of time now has exposed the poor, or lack of, water management (monitoring and control) ability of many water institutions, as well as the difficulties and inability of municipalities and their consumers to be able to reduce their consumption when required” says Steve Gillham, General Manager: Engineering and Scientific Services, Umgeni Water and advisory board member of African Utility Week, the leading annual conference and exhibition with a strong focus on water management, taking place in Cape Town in May.

He adds: “there are many hard lessons being learnt by the affected water institutions that need to be shared and documented to improve the response for future drought events. Responses have come from national, provincial, water boards and municipalities to dry to address the situation. Certain initiatives have been more effective than others”.  

Water becoming scarce commodity
It may come as a surprise to some that globally South Africa is classified as a water-stressed country, with annual rainfall of about 492 millimetres compared to other areas with around 985 millimetres. The Western Cape is in a situation where the threat of water shedding is looming and currently on high alert with level 3B water restrictions.

“This vital resource needs our help!“ says Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl, editor of ESI-Africa, a leading power and water trade publication and session chair at African Utility Week, “and considering that water is increasingly becoming a scarce commodity, time has come for us to become extra mindful of our water usage as a way of life going forward, even after the restrictions are lifted in the future.” She explains: “the question to ask yourself is what your household and company are using potable water resources on. We were in a similar situation with electricity load shedding and rallied around backup generators, energy efficient light bulbs and switching off equipment in standby mode.”

Let us not fall back into old habits”
“The same applies to water” Nicolette adds, “the solutions are endless and people are coming up with innovative ways to manage their water usage more effectively, such as attaching extension pipes to outlets to run grey water straight into the garden. Incidentally, research has shown that gardens, toilets, baths and showers use the most water. So concentrate on managing these areas. Consider putting a layer of mulch around trees and plants to slow evaporation, choose water wise plants, opt for a rock garden instead or find alternatives such as artificial grass.”  

ESI Africa’s editor says: “Around the house fix dripping taps, do not let the water run whilst brushing your teeth or washing your hands. Try a ‘dry’ shower by turning off taps whilst soaping up – be bold, inventive and imagine a life without water as your inspiration.”  

She adds: “it is also very inspiring to hear about big apartment blocks in the city that have organised to give all the residents a big 10 litre bucket each to collect their grey water which is then used to water the gardens and used to clean the building and outside facilities.” “Let’s use our social media (neighbourhood Facebook and Whatsapp groups) to help each other manage this precious resource more efficiently. And most importantly, when the rain does come, let us not fall back into old habits. And let’s not forget that South Africa is celebrating the annual National Water Week next month from 16-19 March to raise awareness while World Water Day takes place on 22 March.”

Managing water services better
“Drinking water and wastewater utilities in Africa are struggling to cope with the increasing demand for services, especially in rapidly growing urban areas” says Evan Schiff, event director of African Utility Week. He continues: “responding adequately to this ever increasing demand necessitates strong and active partnerships between the private sector in particular and municipal governments”.

The water track at African Utility Week will bring together experts from public and private sectors to support utilities and municipalities become more responsive and efficient in their practices.  

Leading water and energy platform
African Utility Week takes place from 16-18 May 2017 at the CTICC in Cape Town, gathering over 7000 decision makers in the power and water sectors from more than 40 countries to source the latest solutions and meet over 300 suppliers. The expo will feature free to attend technical workshops and technology demonstrations.

KPMG is diamond sponsor Already leading global advisory firm KPMG has confirmed that it is returning to African Utility Week, this time as its exclusive diamond sponsorship. Other long-running supporters and industry stalwarts EPG, Landis+Gyr, Ontec and Shell are also back as platinum sponsors while Conlog, Oracle and Vodacom are gold sponsors again.

Part of the event is Energy Revolution Africa, a new platform for community scale projects, which will provide a unique forum for solution providers to meet with the new energy purchasers such as metros and municipalities, IPPs, rural electrification project developers and large power users, including mines, commercial property developers and industrial manufacturers.

African Utility Week and Energy Revolution Africa are organised by Spintelligent, a multi-award-winning exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the infrastructure, real estate, energy, mining, agriculture and education sectors. Other well-known events by Spintelligent include Agritech Expo Tanzania, CBM-TEC, Kenya Mining Forum, Future Energy East Africa (formerly EAPIC), Future Energy Nigeria (formerly WAPIC), Future Energy Central Africa (formerly iPAD Cameroon), iPAD Nigeria Mining Forum, DRC Mining Week and EduWeek. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group.

Dates for African Utility Week and Energy Revolution Africa:
Conference and expo: 16-18 May 2017
Awards gala dinner:  17 May 2016
Site visits: 19 May 2016
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Websites: http://www.african-utility-week.com    
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities   
Linkedin: African Power Forum

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.

- By Genesis Articles Global

Introduction  

Leading supplier of specialised Business Management (BMS) and Business Intelligence (BI) solutions    Lorge Consulting Services has done it again. The Midrand-based powerhouse service provider   celebrates yet another milestone achievement by successfully supplying and installing a turnkey software solution for a market leader with niche’-specific and intricately demanding operational needs. This time it was for none other than iconic Digital Signage Specialist, Ethniks.

About Client:  Ethniks  

Well, there’s a slim to zero chance that you haven’t directly or indirectly been exposed to Ethniks and their diverse range of innovative solutions. While you may not exactly know of them as “Ethniks, the Digital Signage Experts”, you’ve certainly come across their products and encountered their services on a frequent basis.  

For instance, they put a smile on so many faces at the many MacDonald’s franchises through the supply and maintenance of digital menus and other informative, alluring and high-tech signage. In other instances, they help you locate your favourite store in major malls and shopping centres through robust wayfinder technology. You will typically feel their presence at the likes of corporates, multinationals operating in a host of industries, banks - as well as public and private spaces that either rely on, or can be advanced by digital signage and similar products suited to divergent applications.  

Lorge mandated to deliver technologically adept solution for Ethniks  

In January of 2016 discussions ensued between Ethniks and Lorge. The primary focus was to identify and implement a solution that would effectively address a major logistic and operational area. This dealt with being able to equip field technicians to not only communicate more efficiently in terms of day-to-day tasks, but also execute such duties with greater ease. In other words, the solution needed to enable enhanced functionality and interactivity. This would be in lieu of delivering technical, support, customer related as well as internal requests with superior efficiency and superb accuracy while working in the field or on the move.  

The recommended solution  

As a platinum certified Sage partner for over two decades, Lorge is a preferred supplier and implementer of associated products including Sage 300. This in conjunction with a relevant and comprehensive CRM solution was proposed and accepted as the solution of choice. A crucial component of the solution installed by Lorge, involved mobile technology. This represented a groundbreaking leap for the already well-established digital signage giant. While the installation as well as sophisticated tools and technology used can be rather technical, in layman’s terms this meant that the field technicians would be able to receive repair and related instructions via their mobile devices. They would also be able to attend to specific changes and reparations remotely – all in real time. It is interesting to also note that Ethniks digital solutions are underpinned by satellite transmission, making their adaptability, dynamic nature and service support extremely stable and responsive. The installed system needed to factor this consideration into the product, installation, and after-sales requirements.  

CRM Product Manager at Lorge, Gustav du Plessis, Sage 300 Product Manager, Riekie Roux as well as Senior CRM Consultant, Glen Taylor, discussed the extent of the project as well as the intricate requirements for a successful installation. They confirmed that despite the complex nature of the implemented solution - which needed to be installed in a manner consistent with the high service-standards established by Lorge - the project rollout was seamlessly facilitated from March of 2016, with the system going live effective July 2016.                

Benefits to Ethniks  

In addition to the specific operational advantages of the above software solution, extensive system-wide benefits include considerable time-saving on previous processes - from quoting to technical updates executed. This naturally translates to improved technical and associated responsiveness, more effective communication, cost-savings in the medium to long term, minimised downtime, increased productivity, stronger customer service delivery and ultimately an improved top line.  

Spokesperson for Ethniks and company accountant, Jaco le Roux, also confirmed that the organisation is already experiencing the positive impact of the relatively new system. They remain firmly confident in the training, ongoing support and effectiveness of the new software solution provided by Lorge. He also indicated that Ethniks has just begun to scratch the surface so to speak of the vastly intelligent software solution and its extensive capabilities.              

To fully understand the solution delivered by Lorge it is worthwhile to consider the broad service and product offering of Ethniks in a little more detail. As a veteran of close on 30 years specialisation, Ethniks provides premium-quality infrastructure in conjunction with pioneering software and creative content integration - including customisation, implementation, technical and customer support. Products range all the way from general digital signage, to interactive information kiosks, to platforms suitable for employee training, solutions capable of interfacing with virtually any data source such as point-of-sale systems, others capable of integrating mobile friendly features like social media and much more. Furthermore, it’s no surprise that they deliver internationally acclaimed solutions, being partnered with SCALA software that power more than half a million screens in over one hundred countries.  

Lorge leads the way  

Lorge, as a multi-award winning organisation, is a preferred supplier and implementer of Sage X3, Sage 300, Sage CRM and Qlikview business and technology solutions in Africa. The company has implemented over 10 000 users across divergent economic sectors and is a trusted supplier for over 250 companies, more than a third of which are listed on the JSE Securities Exchange.  

Additionally, the Ethniks project symbolises a new chapter in the expanding specialisation of Lorge’s service capabilities. This is paramount in a technologically advancing era that demands solutions which are increasingly mobile-friendly, more robust and align to progressive business and end-user trends. The success of this project also paves the way for the digital marketing industry as a whole, notwithstanding other industries that provide innovative solutions for the modern consumer and rely heavily on field technicians.  

For further information on Sage 300, or to discuss your current enterprise needs, simply contact our Sales Department on 010 594 9800. 

Media Contact

This Press Release is proudly brought to you by communications specialists Genesis Articles on behalf of Lorge Consulting Services

Organisation: Genesis Articles Global - a division of Genesis Group

Website: www.genesisarticles.co.za 

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contact person: Mark David Sing

Contact Number: +27 76 450 6739

Contact Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

College’s largest intake of youngsters enjoy their first day of magic school

A wand handover ceremony, a whirlwind mansion tour and the recital of the mysterious Magician’s Code amazed more than sixty of Cape Town’s aspiring magicians as they began their magical education at the College of Magic in Claremont on Saturday 28 January, 2017.

The Mother City’s brightest young wizards-to-be, from ages 10 to 16, and hailing from Gugulethu to Grassy Park, Hout Bay and more, have the proud distinction of being the College’s largest new student intake in its nearly 40 year history. 

Forget Hogwarts’ hat sorting ceremony - at the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, the wizarding newbies are sorted into Course One and  the Magic and Showmanship Course where they will be taught the basics of magic, presentation skills, patter, and how to entertain an audience. 

Course One runs for 15 weeks while the Magic and Showmanship Course is 30 weeks long. Lessons are held on Saturdays during the school term. 

The first day of lessons included a look behind the wizard’s curtain as the students were led on a tour of the College of Magic’s mysterious Victorian manor. In addition to providing host classrooms for more than 200 students each Saturday, the century old building is home to Africa’s largest magical museum, the continent’s premier magic shop and the wondrous Imagination Centre where the College’s popular festivals and events are held. 

One of this year’s impressive recruits is ten-year-old Kiara Davids, a former marching band enthusiast, from Grassy Park. The multi-talented prodigy is thrilled to be learning magic: 

“I think magic is incredible and I can’t wait to come back to the College every week to learn something cool!” 

Hout Bay’s Samuel Peters (12) has loved magic since the age of 2 and has been watching magic tricks on YouTube because he’s been too young to join the College of Magic before. Now that he is of age and a College student, he is eager to fulfill his magical dreams: 

“I’ve learnt some pretty mind blowing tricks on my first day at the College and I can’t wait to learn more so that I can be as amazing as world-famous magician Dynamo, my magical role model”, says the youngster. 

In addition to teaching magic effects, the College offers a variety of the allied arts (juggling, mime and clowning, puppetry). A rising juggling star is Anathi Fodo(10), from Gugulethu who, on his first day, was already impressing fellow students and teachers with his gravity-defying clubs routine: 

“Juggling is one of the better known allied arts and I want to be the best in it. I’m looking forward to improving my balancing skills over the next few months!” said the dexterous youth. 

Much like the amazing world of Harry Potter, performing magic is passed down through generations of a family like Hout Bay’s mother and daughter magical duo Leonie Mollentze, a College of Magic alumnus, and Heidi van Wyk. 

Heidi (10), who attends Kronendal Primary and is a budding synchronised swimming star, is following in her mom’s trained magician footsteps this year: “My mom does amazing children’s magic like balloon modelling and vanishing effects, but I really want to learn all of the dazzling card magic tricks, as well as ventriloquism. I can’t wait to get started!” 

The mischievous foursome and their new classmates had just enough time during their first lesson to choose a magic wand and learn their first wand effect of the year - how to make the wand float - before reciting the all-important Magician’s Code. The code, amongst other things, is a promise to never reveal the secrets of magic to “muggles”! 

The College of Magic, which has been teaching the theatrical performing art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults since 1980, is pleased with the first day’s new student turnout: 

“We’ve been amazed at the high rate of registration this year and the number of learners who are eager to learn the art of performing magic. I can promise our new students that they are in for the most amazing experience of their lives!” says David Gore, the director of the College of Magic.

Registration for the second intake of Course One for the year will open in July 2017. For more information about the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call 27(0)21 683 5480.

 “Getting recognition in this competitive expo industry is immensely rewarding”

Leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser Spintelligent has won four major awards at the *ROAR Organiser and Exhibitor Awards in Johannesburg which honour excellence in the exhibition and events industry on the continent. The awards were organised jointly by the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) and the Exhibition & Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA).

*ROAR = Respect, Opportunities, Achievement, Recognition

African Utility Week, Spintelligent’s flagship energy event for the last 17 years, was the joint winner in the Best Trade Exhibition 6001-12000 sqm category, sharing the honours with the World Travel Market.

Agritech Expo Zambia won two awards: for Best Trade & Consumer Exhibition 12000+ sqm and for Distinction in Social Responsibility Award.  The African Real Estate & Infrastructure Summit, which was a launch event for the company in 2016, won the Best Confex category. The DRC Mining Week was also a finalist in the Social Responsibility category.

“It was a clean sweep for Spintelligent and I could not be prouder of our teams”, says an excited Spintelligent MD David Ashdown. “We work incredibly hard to produce successful, relevant and innovative events for our clients in exciting industries such as energy, agriculture and mining. To also get recognition from our peers in this competitive expo industry is immensely rewarding as it inspires us to work even harder and to take things up a notch every year.”

He adds: “the AAXO ROAR Awards honoured both long-standing events such as African Utility Week, to a more recent project such as Agritech Expo as well as a launch show, African Real Estate & Infrastructure Summit, which is part of our new property portfolio. It shows that we are still on the right track, while also receiving the nod of approval for our newer initiatives.” ROAR Awards

• Best Trade Exhibition 6001-12000 sqm category (joint winner)
  
  The 17th edition of African Utility Week, the flagship pan-African power and water platform, will take place again in Cape Town in May and gather some 7000 attendees from around 80 countries, including many African nations, as well as 250 exhibitors and 299 high-level conference speakers while more than 80 power and water utilities will be represented.
  
  Spintelligent’s Group Director for Power, Energy and Real Estate, Le-Ann Hare Keymer says: “we share Africa’s goals of economic growth and prosperity for all, especially working in the power, energy and real estate sectors. It is a privilege to be part of the continent’s development through our events and particularly to be recognised for excellence and innovation”.
  
  
• Best Trade & Consumer Exhibition +12000 sqm Award and Distinction in Social Responsibility Award
  
  “The Agritech Expo Zambia team is honoured and thankful for the recognition of what they have achieved over the last three years” says Emmanuelle Nicholls, Natural Resources Group Director, “building the event from scratch in a field in the middle of Zambia.” She adds “their commitment, blood, sweat and tears bear testimony to the uniqueness of this event.”
  
  The fourth edition of Agritech Expo Zambia will also return to Chisamba in April – last year the outdoor farming expo attracted a record-breaking attendance of 17 605 visitors. The expo also has an outreach programme at the local Golden Valley Basic School, where, with the assistance of numerous event sponsors, it is assisting the school with much needed infrastructure upgrades, equipment supplies and management of the school’s farm.
  
  
• Best Confex Award
  
  “Winning Africa’s Best Confex for the inaugural African Real Estate & Infrastructure Summit is testament to the creativity, innovation, resourcefulness and hard-work that the entire Spintelligent event team contributed to the project” says event director Richard Stubbs. With the support of Wesgro and the Transport Development Agency, we look forward to realising the vision of a continental meeting place for African Built Environment professionals, and hopefully many more awards along the way.”
  
  More than 300 sector experts will gather for the second edition of the African Real Estate & Infrastructure Summit in September in Cape Town this year with interactive sessions that focus on key case studies of visionary city planning, investment opportunities in the commercial and residential real estate sectors across the continent.
  
  
• Distinction in Social Responsibility Award – finalist
  
  DRC Mining Week takes place again in June, hosting more than 1500 visitors in the mining hub of Lubumbashi. The event is also an active supporter of the Kinsevere Community School Project in Lubumbashi, which includes the preparation of hot meals for 500 children on Sundays, access to water through a borehole and the school sponsorship of 25 gifted kids in the community.
  
  The DRC Mining Week team has been working hard to grow within and outside the company” says event director Elodie Delagneau, “and while our big brother event, Agritech Expo, was a well-deserved winner in this category we are incredibly proud to have been a finalist and this just motivates us to up our game!”

Spintelligent is well known for organising exhibitions and conferences across the continent in the infrastructure, real estate, energy, mining, agriculture and education sectors. Other well-known events by Spintelligent include Agritech Expo Tanzania, CBM-TEC, Kenya Mining Forum, Future Energy East Africa (formerly EAPIC), Future Energy Nigeria (formerly WAPIC), Future Energy Central Africa (formerly iPAD Cameroon), iPAD Nigeria Mining Forum, DRC Mining Week and EduWeek. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group.

Website: http://www.spintelligent.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/spintelligent

Media contact:
Senior communications manager:  Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone:  +27 21 700 3500
Mobile:  +27 82 562 7844
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Romantic Valentine’s Picnic by the Sea @ the Radisson Blu Waterfront Cape Town 

This Valentine’s Day enjoy an exclusive picnic for two on the rolling lawns of the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. 

Soak up the scenery and watch the sun go down while enjoying a delicious picnic prepared by Chef Norman Heath.  

The picnic basket includes freshly baked baguette, marinated olives, summer berry salad, Asian basted chicken skewers, a selection of local cheese and biscuits, peanut butter brownies and a bottle of wine.

Guests also get a blanket, umbrella and a great spot on the water’s edge to picnic with your loved one.

The Valentine’s picnic at Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront starts at 6:30pm on Tuesday, 14 February 2017. 

The cost for this Valentine’s picnic is R695 per couple.

Book now on +27 (0)21 441 3000 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

African Utility Week to gather 7000+ power professionals in Cape Town

“Youth unemployment on the continent is a major epidemic and internship opportunities are an amazing solution to help maximize human capital development on the continent” says Daniel Antwi, co-founder of the Africa Internship Academy (AIA) that will launch its Young Energy and Power Professionals (YEPP) at this year’s African Utility Week in Cape Town in May. Says Daniel: “quite a number of employers have argued that skills constraint has been a major contributing factor to youth unemployment. Again, many young graduates find it very difficult to move out and become job makers in the market. Therefore, Africa Internship Academy stands to facilitate successful transition from academia to industry by ensuring that the skills of youth are honed early enough to match the labour market demands.”

Africa Internship Academy has already begun its monthly gatherings in Ghana and is looking to roll out more offices in many African cities by end of the first half of 2017. “So far, all our fellows have secured amazing internship opportunities from great organisations in Africa,” Daniel states, “and Ecobank Ghana requested to have all fellows in Ghana to intern with them, if possible.” He adds: “also, together with the organisers of African Utility Week, we will be launching the Young Energy and Power Professionals Network (YEPP) which will be a network of ambitious graduates who wish to contribute to solving African’s power and energy issues.”

Young people in the utility sector
YEPP will bring together graduates who want to learn from each other, access thought leadership, conduct research to broaden their understanding of power and energy issues, raise funding for future solutions and further their career ambitions. “There is a lot of room for young people in the utility sector as long as they get the right skills to navigate” says AIA’s Daniel. According to Daniel, internships are a win-win for all involved: “when HR is able to recognise potential early enough and eventually bring them on board, the recruitment process is easier and the intern would definitely feel valuable. The long-term benefits are more for the employer because staff who are former interns at a company are most likely to stay on with that employer hence building the reputation on the organization as ‘Employer of Choice’.”

He also quotes Stuart Lander of Internships.com who says that “you have a 7 in 10 chance of being hired by the company you interned with.”

At African Utility Week, 30 top power and energy students/graduates across Africa will have the opportunity to be invited to the event, have complimentary access to the strategic conference and will be invited to a networking function co-hosted with Africa Internship Academy. A selection of recruiters, VIP guests and sponsoring companies will also be invited to this function.

Leading energy platform on the continent
The 17th annual African Utility Week is the leading conference and trade exhibition for African power, energy and water professionals and takes place from 16-18 May 2017 at the CTICC in Cape Town. The event will gather over 7000 decision makers from more than 40 countries to source the latest solutions and meet over 300 suppliers. 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 once again address the latest challenges, developments and opportunities in the power and water sectors: ranging from generation, T&D, metering, technology and water.

KPMG is diamond sponsor Already leading global advisory firm KPMG has confirmed that it is returning to African Utility Week, this time as its exclusive diamond sponsorship. Other long-running supporters and industry stalwarts EPG and Landis+Gyr are also back as platinum sponsors while Conlog, Poweroad, Vodacom and Sensus are gold sponsors again.

Energy Revolution Africa, a new platform for community scale projects, will provide a unique forum for solution providers to meet with the new energy purchasers such as metros and municipalities, IPPs, rural electrification project developers and large power users, including mines, commercial property developers and industrial manufacturers. The latest innovations and projects in the sectors of renewables, future technology, energy efficiency, micro/off-grid and energy storage will be showcased.

African Utility Week and Energy Revolution 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. Other flagship events in Spintelligent’s power portfolio are East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC), West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC), iPAD Rwanda Power & Mining Investment Forum and iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum.

Dates for African Utility Week and Energy Revolution Africa:
Conference and expo: 16-18 May 2017
Awards gala dinner:  17 May 2016
Site visits: 19 May 2016
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Website: http://www.african-utility-week.com   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities  
Linkedin: African Power Forum

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.  

CNN has just announced that La Tête restaurant in Cape Town is one of the top restaurant openings for 2017 (link: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/03/foodanddrink/best-new-restaurants-for-2017/).

Farm-to-fork eatery La Tête recently opened on Bree Street and is already getting rave reviews.

Headed up by Chef Giles Edwards, who spent 10 years in the UK and worked at the iconic restaurant St. John with Fergus Henderson.

Dishes which feature are mussels with bacon and cider, roast shallots, mint and pork terrine, hake, chard and anchovy, beef and kidney pudding and ox heart with chips and horseradish. Desserts are classic offerings of salted chocolate caramel tart, poached guavas, and chocolate pots.

While in London Giles's long held ambition was to work with Fergus Henderson in St. John in Smithfield, an establishment widely acknowledged as having kickstarted the British food renaissance.

“Fergus became my mentor,” says Giles. “At St. John I encountered a food philosophy that centered on simple ingredient based concepts. The food had to be seasonal. You served what was fresh and available that day. The menu changed often, sometimes twice a day."

Returning to Cape Town last year he started looking for a suitable restaurant space, and in the intervening period, opened a pop-up called Salt Cellar, in Woodstock.

He found his ideal premises for La Tête in an old Lion Beer public house, located near the Foreshore, a 1930s art deco style building.

“It’s perfect for what I want to do,” says Giles. “I wanted a simple space, without distraction. The focus has to be on the food, the wine and the company."

“I called it La Tête beecause it symbolises what we do. We use the entire animal. The head has a brain, tongue and cheek and I suppose I am giving a nod to the French, who are masters at offal.”

Giles aims to create food from the whole carcass, with nothing wasted. Beef, lamb, goat and seafood will all feature.

“Direct relationships with producers is important to me. Provenance is key.”

Opening Hours: Lunch - Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 2:30pm / Dinner - Tuesday to Saturday 6pm to 11pm  

Address: 17 Bree Street, Cape Town, 8001. Tel: 021 418 1299  

Social media details: https://www.facebook.com/lateterestaurant/ // https://twitter.com/La_Tete_CT  // https://www.instagram.com/la_tete_restaurant/ 

Cape Town, 12 January 2017 – Luxity is one of South Africa’s newest tech start-ups that aims to give everybody a chance to sport a stylish Louis Vuitton handbag, a pair of luxurious Gucci sunglasses or some trendy Louboutin’s at affordable prices. Causing quite the stir in the industry in only a few months, this young company from Cape Town focuses on buying and selling authentic used luxury goods that are still in great condition. Following the trends and making sure to always look stylish is not always easy and can quickly get very expensive. This is where Luke Calitz from Luxity saw an opportunity to step in and make everyone’s lives more convenient and feel like a million bucks! 

The Luxity online boutique provides access to some of the world’s most coveted brands, ranging from designer handbags, clutches, wallets and purses as well as other leather accessories, premium high heels and flats, high-end scarves, luxury sunglasses, and much more. “We pride ourselves in offering only 100% authentic luxury items that are still in excellent condition. At Luxity we take authentication extremely seriously and offer a full money back guarantee, should you ever prove that we sold you a fake or counterfeit item,” explains Luke Calitz, owner of Luxity. Going to an actual second hand store is not always the most pleasant of experiences and you never know what they might have in stock. On the other hand, going through a platform such as Gumtree or OLX might result in a counterfeit product. “With Luxity, our customers can browse from the safety and convenience of their homes, pay online and have a courier deliver a guaranteed authentic luxury item to their door in just a few days.” This added value of feeling safe and giving them ease of mind has led to many customers coming again and again.

Luxity’s social media channels keep customers up to date on new arrivals, which are all listed at their online boutique (www.luxity.co.za) where every item can be purchased with just few simple clicks. “To ensure that everybody can afford luxury, we offer our customers an interest free layby option where they can pay off their purchase within two months in as many instalments as they wish,” Luke explains further.

Luxity does not only cater to those with a desire to buy designer brands, but also to everyone who wants to sell designer luxury goods – whether it is to create space in the closet, by getting rid of items that do not fit or have never been worn. Like with their customers, Luxity strives to make the user experience as easy and convenient as possible: First, images and information are uploaded on the website. After Luxity’s experienced buying team checks and authenticates the item(s), the seller will be presented with the choice to either accept an immediate cash buyout, a store credit, or the option to list an item on consignment. All of this often takes place within 24-48 hours. 

In only four months this Cape Town based start-up has managed to stir up the second hand market, providing a safe, reliable and trusted service to customers and sellers alike.

Expo and conference to focus on major industry trends  

“The power and energy landscape in Africa is undergoing significant change” says Evan Schiff, African Utility Week event director, adding that current trends include “the availability of private investment for power and energy projects, the fast development of energy storage, renewable energy is becoming cheaper, gas that is an increasingly attractive  mode of power generation in Africa, and that in the next 10 years, nuclear will become an increasingly important mode of base-load power generation.”

The investment, trade and development opportunities in the sub-Saharan Africa’s electricity sector are estimated at $835 billion of capital investment, $490 billion for generation capacity and $345 billion for infrastructure.

Real world doers share their expertise The 17th annual African Utility Week is the leading conference and trade exhibition for African power, energy and water professionals and takes place from 16-18 May 2017 at the CTICC in Cape Town. The event will gather over 7000 decision makers from more than 40 countries to source the latest solutions and meet over 300 suppliers. 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 once again address the latest challenges, developments and opportunities in the power and water sectors: ranging from generation, T&D, metering, technology and water. These include two exclusive plenary keynote sessions featuring the most sought-after international speakers. Says Evan: “we are known for consistently gathering a group of industry elite real world doers who share their expertise from grid to socket, best practices for effective power and water supply. Once again, we will not disappoint.”  

KPMG is diamond sponsor Already leading global advisory firm KPMG has confirmed that it is returning to African Utility Week, this time as its exclusive diamond sponsorship. “KPMG’s commitment to create agile utilities in the energy sector across Sub-Saharan Africa, has motivated the firm to take up a diamond sponsorship opportunity at the 2017 African Utility Week” says Ahmed Jaffer, Chairman of KPMG in South Africa and the Head of Power and Utilities. He adds: “African Utility Week is a great platform that attracts key decision makers within the sector.”

The African Utility Week expo offers an extensive technical programme sessions 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.  

New platform: Energy Revolution Africa
“Another strong trend in the sector” says Evan Schiff “is that the energy consumer is becoming more aware of their environment and how their power is generated and distributed, whether they are a residential home, a mine, a village, a shopping centre or manufacturing plant. Cleaner, more affordable energy generating options will increasingly become the norm rather than the exception. All these factors will mean that the utility as we know it will not look the same within 10 years… change will happen.  We are therefore launching Energy Revolution Africa, a new platform for community scale projects.”

Energy Revolution Africa will provide a unique forum for solution providers to meet with the new energy purchasers such as metros and municipalities, IPPs, rural electrification project developers and large power users, including mines, commercial property developers and industrial manufacturers. The latest innovations and projects in the sectors of renewables, future technology, energy efficiency, micro/off-grid and energy storage will be showcased”.

More side events as part of the African Utility Week platform include:

- African Power Finance & Investment Forum: Financiers and project owners will hear from expert speakers who will identify the key trends impacting project finance in regional energy markets with updates on and insights into market opportunities, sources of capital, financing instruments and access to project finance. A featured session on regional power integration will explore new methods of developing cross-border power projects on a PPP basis, explore the opportunities for investors, and show how regional power integration can substantially save capital investment costs.

- The Gas-to-Power World Congress reflects the continuing transformation of the energy ecosystem in Africa and beyond. Gas and renewables are perfect partners to help address an array of future energy challenges, including climate change, energy security and energy finance, currently three of the world’s largest and most important challenges. The event will look at new business and investment opportunities in gas-to-power, energy infrastructure, FSRU, LPG and LNG.  

-  The Utility CEO Forum is held as a 3-day by invitation only board meeting alongside African Utility Week, where the men and women who lead and guide Africa’s power and water sectors discuss the path of transformation. Discussions centre on areas of co-operation, development plans and the advancement of regional centres of excellence throughout Africa.  

-  The Nuclear Power Africa Conference features expert speakers who will address the myths and realities, latest technologies, regulatory and financing challenges and the economic spin offs created by a nuclear new build programme. Nuclear stakeholders and prospective suppliers will gain first hand insights into prospects for new jobs, training programmes, and the business opportunities created by the localisation of the supply chain of a nuclear new build.  

-  The fourth edition of the African Utility Week Power Industry Awards brings together 800 of Africa’s most renowned power and water industry professionals. The Power Industry Awards is the leading gathering to recognise, reward and celebrate the successes of Africa’s power and water sectors during 2016/17.  

-  Africa Utilities Technology Council: Telecommunications/ICT conference track programme to be presented that will cover topics such as: IT/OT convergence, IP networks and utility telecoms network performance measures. The AUTC content will continue in three dedicated sessions – one each in the T&D, Metering and Water tracks of the main strategic conference.  

-    Power Africa - Women in Power Lunch
-    West African Investment Breakfast Briefing
-    East African Investment Breakfast Briefing

Industry support
Apart from KPMG’s diamond sponsorship, long-running supporters and industry stalwarts EPG and Landis+Gyr are also back as platinum sponsors while Conlog, Poweroad, Vodacom and Sensus are gold sponsors again.

African Utility Week and Energy Revolution 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. Other flagship events in Spintelligent’s power portfolio are East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC), West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC), iPAD Rwanda Power & Mining Investment Forum and iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum.

Dates for African Utility Week and Energy Revolution Africa:
Conference and expo: 16-18 May 2017
Awards gala dinner:  17 May 2016
Site visits: 19 May 2016
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Websites: http://www.african-utility-week.com   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities  
Linkedin: African Power Forum

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.