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Friday, September 27, 2013
Energy Indaba’s Global Steering Committee Reveal Agenda That’s Shaping Africa’s Energy Future
Press Release
Setting the agenda of Africa’s premier energy event is a process that’s entirely different from usual conference planning. Instead of issuing a call for speakers and conference papers, as many conferences do when setting an event programme, the Africa Energy Indaba steering committee meets throughout the year to plan and discuss the topics that will be debated at the Johannesburg event.
The steering committee of the Africa Energy Indaba, which includes energy industry representatives and global energy players, formulates a relevant agenda for the two day event. Delegates come from across the continent to attend what has become known as the business networking forum of choice for energy industry players on the continent.
Brian Statham, Chair of Studies for the World Energy Council, is Chair of the Africa Energy Indaba. He says, “Drawing on our global network of more than 3000 members and our annual ‘Issues Survey’ of energy leaders we focus the Energy Indaba programme on the critical topics. Being ‘in touch’ is our differentiating attribute.”
The topics for the 2014 event are not merely a repackaging of previous years’ topics, but are cutting edge and exploratory topics that are particularly important to the African context. The issues of de-centralised energy supply, skills development in the energy sector, political volatility and realisation of gas potential are all topics that are currently being grappled with by Africa’s energy industry players.
“We are exceptionally proud of our steering committee model, which has given our event the credibility and reputation it has achieved. With experts like Dr Christoph Frei and Dr Latsoucabé Fall from the World Energy Council, Dave Wright from Engen, Jason Schaffler from Nano Energy, Prof. Mossad Elmissiry from NEPAD, and Demetri Pappadopoulos from Cennergi, who have worked on the Africa Energy Indaba agenda for 2014, we are confident of the best ever event in February 2014,”says Liz Hart, Managing Director of the Africa Energy Indaba.
Adopted by the World Energy Council as their African regional event, Energy Indaba receives global recognition as the foremost African event for energy professionals from across the globe.
Presented by the South African National Energy Association (SANEA) in association with the World Energy Council, and supported by the African Union and the NEPAD Planning & Coordinating Agency, the forum has achieved the highest level of endorsement and support.
The Africa Energy Indaba 2014 will be held from the 18th– 20thFebruary 2014 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference is the forum for delegates to debate and exchange solutions to Africa’s energy challenges, whilst the exhibition component is a significant marketplace for African and international stakeholders doing business in Africa’s energy sector.
TOPICS FOR THE 2014 AFRICA ENERGY INDABA:
DECENTRALISED ENERGY SUPPLY
The network of pipelines and power lines does not reach all citizens in Africa. In many cases it is simply not economic to extend these networks into sparsely populated rural areas with low levels of economic activity. Therefore, to meet the objective of all citizens having access to modern energy systems it is necessary to consider options for decentralised or off grid energy supply. Solutions will require innovative thinking in terms of technology choices, funding and ownership models, and operation, maintenance, commercial and cross-border trading practices.
ENERGY – WATER – FOOD NEXUS
The competing and complimentary interests of Energy, Water and Food extend far beyond the well know debates about the suitability of bio energy in areas of Africa that are resource constrained [energy, water, arable land]. Energy systems require water for cooling, cleaning and heat transfer. Water system in turn needs energy for pumping and purification. Agriculture and food supply systems need both energy and water. All three need suitable land. How do we find a balance that will serve African development and growth?
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR ENERGY
The development, construction, operation and maintenance of energy infrastructure requires a wide array of skills. It seems there are not sufficient indigenous African skills to meet the demand. We therefore need to consider how to attract more people into this sector, regardless of gender or ethnicity, how to train and develop them, how to ensure that knowledge transfers across borders and across generations and how to ensure that there are no inappropriate barriers [real or perceived] to participation in the sector.
CARBON MANAGEMENT
All human endeavour releases carbon into the atmosphere. The very act of breathing takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. It is therefore essential that we apply our minds to the effective management of carbon. There are technology options such as carbon capture and storage, greater technical efficiency, and greater process efficiency. There are also policy options such as carbon tax, carbon trading etc. These all have positives and negatives and so how do we manage carbon and avoid unintended consequences?
ROLE OF GOVT. AND MARKETS IN ENERGY SECURITY
There are many schools of thought on the need for and the process to achieve energy security. Some believe that market forces will in time drive towards an optimal solution while others believe that a high degree of central planning is essential. There are also considerations of who should be involved in the preparation of energy plans; is it solely a government responsibility or should private sector entities also be involved? Should planning include the reservation of natural resources for reasons of national energy security? There is also a question whether markets will naturally provide the reserve capacity necessary to compensate for intermittent energy sources or system contingency events. Are market designs adequate and are governments playing an appropriate role?
ENERGY FOR TRANSPORT
Energy for transport takes up a significant portion of the energy demand in an economy. It is also a significant contributor to air pollution. We need to consider the value of migrating to higher grade or even alternative fuels. We must also consider alternative energy supply for our transport needs. Finally we must ask what can be done to reduce the transport intensity of our economies and, in fact, our societies.
ELECTRICITY STORAGE
As the proportion of renewables, especially solar and wind, increases in the energy mix so too does the need to deal with the problem of intermittency of these supplies. The ability to effectively and affordably store electricity is a challenge to the increased use of renewables, especially in Africa where interconnectivity is weak and the demand is concentrated in a few time zones. Electricity storage is also a consideration in the transport sector where it is influencing the conversion to electric vehicles.
POLITICAL VOLATILITY AND FUNDING RISK
The volatility of energy and associated policies makes it very difficult for businesses to project their future profitability and also for effective government to government interaction for the best interests of a region. Uncertainties regarding the future dispensation in respect of corruption, legislation, regulation, commercial practices and property rights pose significant risks to investors. Managing these risks adds to the cost of funding and impacts on the viability of infrastructure projects. What can the public and private sectors do to mitigate these risks and stimulate investor confidence?
REGIONAL INTERCONNECTION
Primary energy resources are not spread evenly across the continent and neither is the centre of economic activity and the level of energy demand. It is desirable therefore that we have pipeline and powerline interconnections at a regional and even continental level. There are however many barriers to achieving this goal including national independence, different policy and regulatory objectives in various jurisdictions and different commercial and legal practices. How do we address these issues in order to realise Africa’s potential?
REALISATION OF GAS POTENTIAL
Africa has considerable natural gas resources. Some of these are being beneficially exploited while others appear to be stranded due to difficult investor environments, inadequate national policies, immature markets and lack of supporting infrastructure. There is also potential for coal-bed methane and shale gas and the application of underground coal gasification technology, although much of this unconventional gas potential is as yet only loosely defined or quantified. Given the importance of Africa making full use of its energy potential what can be done to ensure that we realise the full potential of the gas endowment?
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