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Unbeknown to many, Africa currently holds significant energy resources and boasts a high-level of energy self-sufficiency for the region as a whole. The continent holds respectively 9.7 per cent, 8.2 per cent and 5.9 per cent of the world’s total proven resources of crude oil, natural gas and hard oil*. Further to that, it boasts 12.4 per cent of the world’s economically exploitable hydropower capability**.
“Nevertheless, these resources are not well developed to meet the growing needs of the continent,” states Dr Latsoucabé Fall, regional manager for Africa of the World Economic Council (WEC). Fall is also one of the keynote speakers at the ENERGY INDABA 2010 that will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg on February 24-26, 2010. He will speak on ‘Access to Energy: Empowering Africa’s Development’.
“Yet there are huge prospects for the development of these resources, and significant opportunities for technology deployment and investments channelling that are supported by high profitability rates, cheap labour costs and low production costs,” says Fall.
In addition, Dr. Fall stated that “driven by the need of clean and modern energy, solar energy, wind power, hydropower schemes and bio-energy can become an engine for economic and social development in all African countries, ; and thus, helping meeting local energy needs, creating jobs, and contributing as clean energy to preserve the environment.”
The WEC has also found that energy in Africa is also being challenged by:
- Weak energy infrastructure and facilities, and that huge financial difficulties are hindering the sustainable development of the continent
- Weak commercial energy consumption, representing only three per cent of the world’s total, and overwhelmingly dominated by traditional biomass use in an inefficient and unhealthy way
- Low access to modern energy; for example, electricity access is about 35 per cent for the region and less than three per cent for the rural areas.
The ENERGY ENDABA Conference 2010 will offer the opportunity to discuss on the ways and means to overcome these challenges, and more specifically, to explore “sustainable energy solutions for Africa” and come up with valuable propositions and recommendations for government and industry of the African countries to ‘act now’ to make things happen in an accelerated and sustainable way.
“The programme of the ENERGY INDABA 2010 is very comprehensive, and the themes are topical and of great interest for African policy and decision makers,” Fall believes. The Conference will also have a significant role particularly as it takes place after the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15) this December. “[The ENERGY INDABA] might offer the opportunity for the participants to discuss the expected Climate ‘New Deal’, and particularly the ins and outs for Africa, as well as the impact on the African energy and environmental sectors,” says Fall. “To that end, it would be highly recommended that the ENERGY INDABA Conference identify key points for Africa to address the climate changes and to adapt to the new challenging environment resulting from Copenhagen.”
The ENERGY INDABA will also have an important role in bringing together influential voices in energy to pave the path for a brighter future. “As a follow-up to this Conference, the SA Minister of Energy and WEC would act together to advocate the resulting recommendations and their implementation, via African regional bodies such as the African Union, SADC (Southern African Development Community) and ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States).
The WEC Africa Regional Meeting on February 23 precedes the ENERGY INDABA in Johannesburg. This meeting will explore WEC flagship studies for 2010. It will also address the WEC’s agenda for 2011-2013 that will take the focus on the Assessment of Energy and Environment Policy and Global Energy Policy Scenarios.
* BP Statistical Review 2009
** WEC, SER 2007
ENERGY INDABA 2010: A Time of Change
A Time for Innovation, Solutions and Alternatives is the event theme chosen by the Steering Programme Advisory Committee for ENERGY INDABA 2010. The flagship African energy event is an annual event on the Africa business calendar with a specific focus on exploring solutions for a new energy future for Africa. With the recent ever increasing world-wide attention to Energy, ENERGY INDABA 2010 provides an ideal platform to encourage debate as well as creating the stage for a networking climate conducive for companies and individuals to interact. The event forms part of the African business calendar, which will promote sustainable development initiatives across the African continent.
DATES: 24 – 26 February 2010
WEBSITE: www.energyafricaexpo.com
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Lunice Johnston
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