South Africa’s energy crisis will be thrust into a “broader spotlight” as global energy leaders meet at the Africa Energy Indaba from  February 17 to 18, in Sandton, to discuss the continent’s energy future.

The country was under mounting pressure to attract investment and exploit natural resources, such as gas reserves, to mitigate the current strain on the national electricity grid.

Companies and industries needed to find cost effective and reliable alternative energy solutions, particularly as State-owned power utility Eskom, which has missed another deadline to bring its long-overdue Medupi power station on line, buckled under financial woes, said Africa Energy Indaba organiser Siyenza MD Liz Hart.

“The high quality of delegates and officials attending this year’s event is opportune for South Africa,” she said, pointing out that government officials and business leaders were provided an opportunity to deliberate and discuss issues with energy leaders with a “new sense of urgency as they grapple with the challenges and spinoffs being caused by the nation’s power crisis”.

The forum presented Africans with a platform for constructive engagement and sharing of worldwide knowledge and experience, Africa Energy Indaba steering committee chairperson Brian Statham added.

“The window of opportunity for investment in Africa’s energy sectors is big at the moment and current leaders must act decisively,” Hart added, noting that the intent of the Indaba was to ensure that “time-sensitive opportunities” were maximised.

Further, with the concurrent Africa Energy Indaba exhibition, delegates had the opportunity to network with service providers, suppliers and energy experts and view products that could support their businesses and industries during times of load shedding.

The Indaba would also host several side events, such as an invitation-only Indaba Energy leaders' dialogue, a Sustainable Energy for All forum, an independent power producer/power purchase agreement conference, the first Women in Energy conference and an Energy Efficiency and Resilient Energy Infrastructure workshop.