Some 5000 power and water professionals from more than 60 countries, 27 of them African, will meet in Cape Town this week for the annual African Utility Week at the CTICC, at what is the largest utility gathering of its kind on the continent.  Eskom Chief Executive Brian Dames will once again deliver the keynote address during this year’s opening session on Tuesday, 14 May at 09h30. Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa will also address this session.
As host utility, Eskom has been a long-time supporter of the event.  The City of Cape Town is the host city and will showcase its world class water and sanitation facilities and share its strategic plans for the future of the City’s water services.

Power professional getting their hands dirty
African Utility Week will address many of the ongoing challenges that utilities on the continent grapple with says programme director Claire Volkwyn.  “The day to day challenges of African utilities include getting the generation mix right so that they have the optimal balance of energy efficiency but also the maximum energy security that they can ensure.  This year we have greatly expanded our practical offering for visitors with a selection of 60 free-to-attend, CPD-accredited technical workshops on the expo floor.  The workshops offer practical take home solutions, demonstrations and practice installation opportunities for electricians, engineers and other power professionals in the metering, water, transmission and distribution, smart grids, hydro and renewable energy sectors.”

Utilities CEO Forum
The exclusive CEO Forum will bring together the utility heads from more than a dozen African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Sudan and Uganda to discuss strategic goals, regional cooperation, utility reform and reputation management.  Overcoming the challenges of financing projects is also on the agenda.  Industry leaders in technology and engineering such as SAP, Symbion Power, Ernst & Young and MTN will have the exclusive opportunity to engage with these utility leaders.

Opening session
Speaker highlights in the opening session include:

Welcome and keynote:  Brian Dames, CE, Eskom
•        Keynote:  Minister Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs

•        Meeting Africa’s Power Challenges:  Professor Anton Eberhard, Graduate School of Business, UCT

•        Universal Access For All – panel discussion:
-  Glenn Hodes, Africa Carbon Asset Development Facility, Denmark
-  Minister Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs
-  Professor Anton Eberhard, Graduate School of Business
-  Nawal Al-Hosany, Director of Sustainability, Masdar, Director, Zayed Future Energy Prize, Abu Dhabi

Clean Power Africa
The co-located Clean Power Africa will give an extensive look at hydro, wind and solar projects and opportunities across the African continent, gathering major stakeholders in the renewable energy generation sector looking at feasible solutions to fulfill Africa’s generation capacity needs.  Says Claire Volkwyn:  “renewable energy sources need to play a vital role in increasing capacity worldwide.  Not only are they necessary to create sustainable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions but they also help to create jobs.“

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa dates and location:
Exhibition & Conference: 14-15 May 2013, Expo times:  08h00–19h00 & 08h00–16h00 respectively
Pre-conference Workshops: 13 May 2013

Site Visits: 16 May 2013
Location:  CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa 

SPINTELLIGENT