Release
Energy minister Dipuo Peters opens Hydropower Africa
next Tuesday
Updates on Inga, Ingula, Kafue Gorge and more
The South African Energy minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters will open the third annual Hydropower African conference and exhibition this coming Tuesday in Johannesburg. In her opening address, the minister will share her thoughts on “working together to unlock Africa’s hydropower potential to promote sustainable development, regional integration, water and energy security, and poverty eradication in Africa.”
Some of the world’s top hydropower experts will discuss the future of hydropower electricity generation in Africa, particularly funding and financing projects, as well as hear updates on some of the most exciting hydro developments on the continent, including DRC’s Inga and Ingula in KwaZulu-Natal.
Potential of hydropower
“There is an enormous demand for information on the finance and funding of hydropower projects in Africa” says Nicolaas Loretz, Hydropower Africa project director, “especially given that the potential for hydro generation is great and that only 10% of the continent’s potential has been realized. This is the ideal platform to give impetus to project implementation for small and large hydro projects”.
Nicolaas Loretz continues: “We therefore have a special focus on investment opportunities with specialists from the World Bank and the African Development Bank and case studies from Zambia and Mozambique as part of our program.”
Minister’s vision
“We are delighted that Minister Dipuo Peters will share her vision with us”, says Nicolaas Loretz, “particularly to hear her views regarding the promotion of sustainable development, regional integration, water and energy security, and poverty eradication in Africa.”
During a visit to Korea recently, the minister said South Africa can produce more than 43,000 megawatts of electricity but wants to increase this by using renewable energy sources like wind, solar and hydropower.
Program highlights include:
Opening session:
- Keynote address by South African Energy minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters
Working together to unlock Africa’s hydropower potential to promote sustainable development, regional integration, water and energy security, and poverty eradication in Africa
· Evaluating regulatory reforms to boost private investment for hydropower development in Africa Babu Ram, Chief Power Engineer, African Development Bank, South Africa
· Highlighting investment opportunities, incentives and perspectives of the African hydropower generation landscape Vahid Alavian, Water and Hydropower Advisor, Africa Region, The World Bank, Uganda
ü Hydropower Project Finance:
Innovative funding solutions and partnerships for Kafue Gorge Lower project – case study Israel Phiri, Manager, Office for Promoting Private Power Investment, Ministry of Energy and Water Development, Zambia
ü Rural electrification and village hydro:
Small hydropower in Uganda – current projects and future prospects Jimmy Omona, Hydro Mechanical Specialist, UEGCL, Uganda
ü Engineering, process design and operation:
Case study: Project Management of a large hydropower scheme and the interface between dam engineering and power engineering – Ingula case study Colin Logan, Director, GIBB, South Africa
ü Environmental and social impact:
Africa’s major water basins living side by side but not in “peace” and “security” Leonard Kassana, International Hydropower Consultant, Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF), Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda
The World Commission on Dams – more important than ever Liane Greeff, Chair, EcoDoc Africa / African Rivers Network, South Africa
ü Maintenance and refurbishment:
Inga 2 hydropower plant – refurbishment update of unit 23 Etienne Tshibangu, Project Director, SNEL, DRC
ü Regional cooperation:
Regional cooperation and cross-border trading for optimum output and sustainable performance Lawrence Musaba, Co-ordination Centre Manager, The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Zimbabwe
ü Closing session:
The changing future of the African energy mix and the growing need for hydropower
Hydro expertise
Technology companies involved in large and small hydropower projects all over Africa that will share their expertise at Hydropower Africa 2010 include: MarelliMotori, Arcus Gibb, CMC di Ravenna, Hydro Engineering, Knight Piesold, SSI Engineering, Vibro Systems, SMEC, BKS and MWH. Eskom is the host utility and delegates will also go on site visits to the Ingula and Drakensberg pumped storage schemes in KwaZulu Natal; small hydro power plants in Mpumalanga (Friedenheim and Lydenburg) and Inga in the DRC.
Event dates and location: 17-20 August 2010, Pre-conference workshops on 16 August, at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg.
Event website: www.hydropowerafrica.com
For more information, media accreditation or speaker interviews please contact:
Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Email: annemarie.roodbol@clarionevents.com
Tel : +27 (0) 21 700 3558
Fax : +27 (0) 21 700 3501
Mobile : +27 (0) 82 562 7844
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