Honouring key projects in utilities supply industry

6th May 2016

Honouring key projects in utilities supply industry

BOKPOORT CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER PLANT Winners of last year’s African Community Project of the Year

This year’s African Utility Week Industry Awards will once again honour pioneering projects and people in the energy and water industry on the continent. The third edition of the awards takes place on May 18, during the yearly African Utility Week exhibition and conference, in Cape Town.

These prestigious industry awards will be presented during a gala dinner, welcoming 700 of Africa’s most distinguished power and water industry professionals to recognise those that represent a benchmark of excellence for the industry.

Entries for nominations for the awards closed on March 11 and members of the public were invited to nominate themselves or colleagues and projects that have made outstanding contributions to the two sectors. Categories vary from Power Utility of the Year, Clean Energy Project of the Year to the Future Leader Award and Power or Water Woman of the Year.

Last year’s winners included electricity distributor City Power’s Sicelo Xulu, who was named Utility Executive of the Year, eThekwini, which won the Municipality of the Year award, and retail giant Ackermans, which won the award for the Clean Energy Project of the Year. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award went to electricity supplier Southern African Power Pool Zimbabwe coordination centre manager Dr Lawrence Musaba, and concentrated solar power plant Bokpoort won the African Community Project of the Year award.

“For Bokpoort, winning the African Community Project of the Year award not only recognises our dedication to dealing with socioeconomic issues in the areas we invest in, but also encourages us to do more,” says Bokpoort CEO Nandu D Bhula.

Expert in secondary distribution solutions and platinum sponsor for African Utility Week Lucy Electric South Africa is also 0a returning award sponsor. “I am looking forward to personally presenting the Power Utility of the Year Award at this year’s awards,” says Lucy Electric regional director Rick St John.

Another returning sponsor for the awards is silver sponsor water solutions provider Kamstrup. “We have sponsored the event for several years, and find that we get optimum exposure and improved awareness for our brand. Of course, Kamstrup is proud to be associated with the Best in Class Award, but just as important is that we send an important message to the stakeholders on what is required to be world class,” says Kamstrup South Africa manager Petrus van Heerden.

Electricity technology provider Powertech and strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations solutions provider Accenture are also award sponsors at this year’s event.