Members of the media are invited to the African Utility Week and Power Indaba which will unite 2 000 senior power industry executives and decision makers from over 40 countries, representing the key stakeholders from the entire power utility eco-system, focusing on power infrastructure investment, renewable energy and new industry technologies.
The Minister of Energy, Elizabeth Dipuo Peters will open the annual conference and exhibition in Durban on Tuesday, 23 February 2010. She will highlight the Department of Energy’s 2010 goals, milestones, challenges and plans for the crucial year ahead for South Africa. Ms Peters will also be engaging with her peers from other African ministries, neighbouring utilities, the private sector, potential investors and South African municipalities. The minister’s top priority remains to ensure access to electricity by the poorer communities.
The details of the event are as follows:
Venue: ICC in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Date: 22 to 25 February 2010
Time: 08h30
In the past, Minister Peters has said that diversification of the energy mix can only be met if all stakeholders within the energy sector are working together; it cannot be done by legislation alone.
Minister Dipuo Peters will be lobbying, informing and encouraging the sector and neighbouring countries for assistance, dedication and cooperation during the 2010 World Cup as this will be a challenging time for South Africa’s under-resourced electricity infrastructure.
VIP speakers and guests at Power Indaba:
* Honourable Minister Kiraitu Murungi, Minister of Energy, Kenya
* Honourable Minister Elias Mudzuri, Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zimbabwe
* Honourable Minister Joe Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy, Ghana
* Minister John Luk Jok, Minister of Energy and Mining, Sudan
* Honourable Vice Minister Charles Keter, Ministry of Energy, Kenya
* Honourable vice Minister Adam Malima, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Tanzania
* Jean Dieudonné Kavese Paluku, Director, Ministry of Energy, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
* Neliswa Mugabane, Director General, Ministry of Energy, South Africa
* Amb Joseph C Wilson IV (ret), CEO, JC Wilson Investment Ventures, United States
Confirmed speakers and participants from Eskom:
* Ayanda Noah, Managing Director, 2010, Eskom, South Africa
* Chairman of opening session: Brian Dames, Chief Officer: Generation, Eskom, South Africa
* Erica Johnson, Chief Officer: Customer Network Business Eskom, South Africa
* Mark van der Riet, Corporate Consultant, Fuels and Combustion Technologies, Eskom, South Africa
* Generation Africa: Malcolm Fawkes, Senior Manager, Generation Business Learning Faculty, Generation Business, Eskom, South Africa
Highlights from the programme:
* Panel Discussion: Driving investment within the utility sector in Africa
* Working together for 2010: How local and regional co-operation will ensure a successful FIFA World cup
* Access breakfasts with executive insider briefings on the investment opportunities and incentives in the DRC and Zimbabwe
* How to overcome the challenges and negotiation private investment in a cross border transmission project in Southern Africa
* Capacity building - Southern Africa's power priorities
* How regional co-operation and generation initiatives stimulate growth in the power sector: Best practices from East and Central Africa
Utility executives, regional experts and regulators at Power Indaba:
* Victor Mathale, International Trade and Economic Development, New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), South Africa
* Steven Hayes, President, Corporate Council for Africa, United States
* Hanson Sindowe, Chairman, Copperbelt Energy Corporation, Zambia
* Admassu Tadesse, Group Executive: International Division, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), South Africa
* Frank Sebbowa, Ugandan Regulatory Authority, Uganda
* Laurent Kitoko, Advisor to the CEO on International relations, SNEL, DRC
* Ibrahima Thiam, Chairman, ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority, Ghana
* Lawrence Musaba, Secretariat General, Southern African Power Pool, Zimbabwe
* Ben Rafemoyo, Chief Executive Officer, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, Zimbabwe
* Thembani Bukula, Electricity Regulator, National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), South Africa
* Vika di Panzu, Senior Advisor in the Chief Executive Office, SNEL, DRC
* Abel Didier Tella, Secrétaire Général, UPDEA, Côte d’Ivoire
Enquiries:
Zodwa Batyashe
Cell: 082 455 9796
Solly Phetla
Tel: 012 679 9042
Cell: 076 765 3863
Issued by: Department of Energy
18 February 2010
