African Utility Week returns to Cape Town and shows that Africa is open for business
March 2015
News
Regional collaboration in the power and water sectors, the untapped potential of renewable energy, and investment challenges, will be top of the agenda at the 15th African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition, returning to the CTICC in Cape Town from 12-14 May. The event is expected to attract more than 5000 attendees and feature 250 exhibitors, 190 speakers, eight conferences, free technical workshops on the expo floor, three high-profile plenary sessions and the coveted industry awards gala dinner.
The event brings together utility professionals from across the globe to learn, share knowledge and debate the key topics that will secure the future development of Africa’s power and water industries.
Africa is open for business
The new event director for African Utility Week, Evan Schiff, says: “Based on consultations with the industry, we have extended the conference and exhibition by an extra day, so we now offer three days of conference sessions, networking and an extra plenary session. The theme of our opening is: Africa is open for business.”
This year, the metering track will focus on the following topics:
• Technology, policy and regulation for utility modernisation.
• Revenue protection: Challenges, opportunities and achievements.
• Learning from meter rollouts in an African context.
• Latest metering technologies: Opportunities and threats.
• ICT and data analytics: Tools in the utility arsenal.
• Customers: The real smart in metering?
The following speakers and panelists have been confirmed for the metering programme:
• William Stucke, former councillor, ICASA, South Africa.
• Franco Pucci, director, STS Association, South Africa.
• Maboe Maphaka, senior manager: energy trading and sales forecasting, Eskom Holdings, South Africa.
• Christo Nicholls, senior operations manager, Edison Power Group, South Africa.
• Matshidiso Mfikoe, MMC for environment and infrastructure services, City of Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Ashley Maistry, Senior Manager: Smart Grid Delivery Lead, Accenture, South Africa.
• Imraan Mohamed, marketing director, Itron, South Africa.
• Sam Amadi, chairman and CEO, NERC, Nigeria.
• Patrick Simwinga, manager: product security, Zesco, Zambia.
• Robert Mubiru, project manager, UMEME, Uganda.
Industry buy-in
Eskom is again the host utility for the event, Cape Town the host city while the event also enjoys the support of professional industry bodies such as the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE), the Power Institute for East and Southern Africa (PIESA) and Southern African Asset Management Association (SAAMA).
More event highlights
• CEO Forum – the invitation only Utility CEO Forum is an African forum where C-level executives from Africa’s leading utilities come together to discuss pressing topics within the industry.
• Awards – the inaugural African Utility Week Industry Awards last year were a roaring success, with companies and individuals in the power and water industry honoured in categories ranging from Lifetime Achievement, Municipality of the Year to Clean Energy Project of the Year.
• Exhibition – attending the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa exhibition is free when registering in advance, and it showcases energy saving technologies and services for the industry and features hands-on demonstrations and CPD-accredited technical workshops on the exhibition floor.
For more information contact Rue Limekhaya, Spintelligent, +27 (0)21 700 3500, [email protected], www.african-utility-week.com
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