In the run-up to the tenth yearly Africa Energy Indaba (AEI) in February, the South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC) on Tuesday announced that it would launch its African Energy Consultants initiative at the event.
The SAAEC, which is a partner of the AEI Trade Association that organises the AEI, hopes its members on the African continent will benefit from the initiative, which SAEEC CEO Chiboni Evans said would encourage the use of African consultants on African projects, thereby boosting local content.
“We’re not saying that we don’t want other people to assist us in terms of developing our infrastructure, but Africans need to be involved in what’s going on in the sector, while also participating and providing knowledge,” she enthused at an Ambassador’s Briefing.
The briefing, held at the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel, in Pretoria, was aimed at introducing the 2018 event and providing delegates, media and ambassadors with up-to-date information about the AEI, which will be held from February 19 to 23 at the Sandton Convention Centre.
In attendance at the briefing were Belgium’s Ambassador HRG Cooreman, Niger’s Ambassador Rakiatou Mayaki, Norway’s Ambassador Trine Skymoen, Switzerland’s Ambassador Helen Budliger and Poland’s Ambassador Andzej Kanthak.
AEI chairperson Brian Statham emphaised that the event is “highly relevant to companies who are actively involved in all areas [of the energy sector] wishing to showcase solutions for the benefit of Africa.”
AEI MD Liz Hart added that the AEI extends to services for major energy projects on the continent, including rural energy solutions, urbanisation and energy needs, the renewable and sustainable energy industry, as well as the management thereof.
She further explained that a key focus of the AEI is to provide access to project opportunities across the continent, whether these projects are small, offgrid or decentralised energy solutions or whether they entail large-scale renewable energy.
“What we aim to do is to bring the investor, financier and project developer to the event, to give them access to opportunities so that, ultimately, we can find solutions to Africa’s energy challenges,” Hart noted.