During the gala evening pioneering utilities, projects and people in the energy and water industries on the continent will once again be celebrated for their achievements during 2018/2019. Previously known as the African Utility Week Industry Awards, the new branding reflects the recent co-location of the POWERGEN Africa exhibition with African Utility Week.
“Our awards have been extremely popular and prestigious right from the start” says African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa’s event director Evan Schiff, adding: “we love how competitive the power and water industries are as this stimulates innovation, entrepreneurship and progress, all needed to improve power and water services for all Africans. We look forward to honouring the continent’s leading people and projects, from the Lifetime Achievement Award and Young Leader Award, to the Power Service Provider of the Year and the top Renewable Energy Projects in small and larger scales.”
Power and water professionals can nominate themselves or a colleague, project or organisation by completing the nomination form on the African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa website.
The categories for the African Power, Energy & Water Industry Awards 2019 are as follows:
Individual Awards
• Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by: Siemens
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 or water industries during his or her entire career rather than or in addition to a single contribution.
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 into 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 Contribution Award: Young Leader
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 or water sectors. This young professional has had commendable career achievements to date and is already playing a leading role in their sector.
Organisational Awards
• Power Service Provider of the Year
This award recognises a power service provider (such as a 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 Service Provider of the Year
Sponsored by: SBS Tanks
This award recognises a water service provider (such as a utility or municipality) 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.
• Grid-Tied Renewable Energy Project (10MW +)
Sponsored by: Aberdare Cables
This award is for a project completed by an African utility, off-grid producer, IPP, government or investor between March 2018 and February 2019.
• Small-Scale Sustainable Energy Project (under 5MW)
This award is for a sustainable energy project providing electricity for either a commercial or rural electrification setting that was connected between March 2018 and February 2019.
Conference and expo
The new co-location of POWERGEN Africa in 2019 will add an expanded focus on generation, including renewables, off grid, fossil fuels and nuclear, while still concentrating on transmission, distribution, metering, new technologies including storage, mini grids, micro grids, IOT and ICT systems, as well as water.
Along with multiple side events and numerous networking functions African Utility Week boasts a five track strategic conference with over 300 expert speakers. An extensive Knowledge Hub programme that is CPD accredited and free to attend, offers hands-on presentations taking place in defined spaces on the exhibition floor. These 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.
International pavilions
Apart from the official U.S. country pavilion at African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa showcasing specialised technology and services for the utility, metering, renewable and water industries, country pavilions from Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India and Poland have also already confirmed their presence at the 3-day event in May.
African Utility Week and the co-located POWERGEN Africa is the flagship energy event organised by Spintelligent, a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the energy, infrastructure, mining, real estate and agriculture sectors. Other well-known events by Spintelligent include Future Energy East Africa, Future Energy Nigeria, the Utility CEO Forums, Agritech Expo Zambia, Nigeria Mining Week and DRC Mining Week. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group and African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa form part of Clarion Energy, which runs over 40 events that cover the oil, gas, power and energy sectors, making it one of Clarion Events’ largest portfolios.