Company Announcement - The event is the longest running regional power and energy conference and exhibition in the region. The 2016 event is expected to attract 2,000+ stakeholders from the region’s Ministries, utilities, regulators and service provider companies, including: KenGen, Umeme, KETACO, Kenya Power, TANESCO, Energy Regulatory Commission and provide a leading platform for identifying and establishing further insights into the various markets associated with the energy reform landscape and investment opportunities across East Africa. Some of the high-level speakers included South Sudan’s Minister of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation & Water Resources, the Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Djibouti’s Minister of Energy & Natural Resources, H.E. Ali Yacoub Mahamoud, and the Principal Secretary at the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Joseph Njoroge.

There are massive opportunities to be unlocked within the East African region, and especially in the power and energy sectors. According to Frost & Sullivan, South Africa (2nd biggest economy in Africa) has an installed power capacity of roughly 45,000 MW. The 11 countries forming part of the East African Power Pool have an installed capacity of 50,128 MW. If you remove Egypt’s 31,098 MW from the equation, then the opportunity for infrastructural improvement and need of additional capacity is even more crucial.

To support Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda add approximately 40,000 MW to 50,000 MW to their installed electricity generation capacity, cumulatively; over the next 10 to 15 years there are three levers that are often quoted as being essential – an abundance of an energy fuel, prudent project financing, and investment in technology and human capital. EAPIC 2016 will address all these themes at the strategic Conference, so to support the industry progress.  A key question often raised about the East African region is its potential and dedication to renewable energy. The demand for showcasing these strategies and technologies at EAPIC has been so high that EAPIC has a dedicate Clean Power East Africa focus.  It’s predicted that renewable sources will continue to grow and be an important source in the future.  Some of the power potential in East African countries includes: Kenya (geothermal, hydropower, wind, coal and natural gas), Tanzania (hydropower and natural gas), Uganda (hydropower and thermal), Rwanda (small hydropower), Burundi (small hydropower), Ethiopia (hydropower), Sudan (hydropower and thermal).

With a wealth of natural resources, supply of energy in East Africa is prospering, but the commercial and technical losses from a poorly managed transmission and distribution network and inordinately large number of system faults, especially on LV lines and Distribution Transformers are a large concern.  Consequently the main reason for unreliable supply is not always the generation capacity, but the losses in the evacuation of power.  EAPIC welcomes international companies and trade delegations to exhibit their latest technological solutions to help the region excel.  There will be over 80 local, regional and international companies showcasing their products and services to utilities and the largest engineering companies in the region.  It’s the place to be seen.  

“It was indeed a very good experience for the South Sudan delegation to participate in the EAPIC conference. We gained a lot from the interactive sessions involving highly experienced participants” Jemma Nuna Kumba (MP), Minister, Ministry of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation and Water Resources, South Sudan. The South African Electrotechnical Export Council led a delegation of 25 companies to EAPIC, which was more than double the number of companies from last year and this was made possible by the Department of Trade and Industry (thedti) and supported by the South African High Commission in Kenya. Says SAEEC CEO Chiboni Evans: “our increased participation is also an indication of the importance South Africa ascribes to not only the power sector in Africa but to the East African region.” The platform provided by EAPIC enables the public sector and the private sector to engage and work together to unlock the region’s economic potential and support East Africa’s desire to attract global investment and players. The private sector holds crucial experience, access to funding which the public sector often lacks in developing countries.

The second East African Power Industry Awards, which will celebrate the region’s triumphs and successes with a black tie affair will be hosted off site at the InterContinental Hotel. In 2015, Kenya Electricity Generating Company or KenGen scored a double win at the inaugural East African Power Industry Awards during the gala dinner at EAPIC when the utility won the Outstanding Clean Power Award and also took top spot in the Excellence in Power Generation category. Other popular winners were Dr Albert Butare, former Energy Minister of Rwanda who won the Lifetime Achievement Award for East Africa, as well as H.E. Dr Elham Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim from Ethiopia who is the African Union’s Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy who won the Outstanding Woman in Power, Regional Award East Africa. “Networking is one of the main reasons I attend, especially the awards is such a great concept. Interacting with the electrical supply energy chain, I’ve sorted out my East African logistics.”

-Rick St John, Regional Director, LucyElectric

“All our customers came to visit us from all levels. It was great to have a platform to host them all at one time. The show was very busy, however it’s not the quantity that stood out, but more so the exceptional quality of people.”

Andrew Eaton, Sales Engineer, Gilkes
EAPIC is a leading regional event within a much wider-reaching power and water portfolio presented by Spintelligent. Spintelligent is a specialist provider of face to face business platforms for Sub Saharan Africa.