Demonstrating highly efficacious in addressing key issues impacting the African energy realm in 2019, next year’s iteration is envisioned to be the most successful edition since the event’s inception.
The much awaited Africa Energy Indaba, held in collaboration with strategic partners, the World Energy Council, NEPAD Agency and SANEA once again proved to be a sectoral sensation. The event is the largest and most influential energy event in Sub-Saharan Africa covering all aspects of the nation’s energy agenda. Hosted in February this year in Johannesburg, South Africa, the conference was invaluable in tackling critical concerns affecting the African energy landscape and those vested in it, while developing practical solutions to best minimise these issues. African participation in the event was boosted by the South African Electrotechnical Export Council Inward Buying Mission.
The Africa Energy Indaba 2019 introduced the initial series of CEO Roundtables, where the continent’s widespread CEOs and Leaders assembled to confront burning energy challenges that plague Africa. Incorporated into these insightful discussions was the prevalent issue of youth who are unable to find jobs and what needed to be implemented to improve the crisis.
Influential global energy leaders attended The Indaba Energy Leaders’ Dialogue 2019, a high-level event that unravelled critical concerns impacting the energy realm. Discussions highlighted the megatrends transforming the energy space as we know it. Moreover, new realities and models of collaboration having transpired in the last 5 years were unpacked. In an endeavour to harness technological change, much focus was placed on innovative solutions and strategies to address the nation’s energy concerns.
Insights from the 2019 Ministerial Roundtable hosted in partnership with the South African Department of Energy, emphasised the significant role of energy in economic development and uncovered the destructive effects that lack of energy access or blackouts have on inflicted economies. Additionally, in order to achieve its energy demand by 2030, Africa requires an investment of approximately US$ 70 billion. In light of these findings, the Ministerial roundtable was introduced by Energy Minister, Jeff Radebe (South Africa), as a forum to investigate Africa’s most pressing challenges and ascertain how the public and private sectors, banks and development institutions can collaborate and convert vision into action.
International luminaries imparted their vast experience and expertise of Africa’s vibrant energy sector to attendees. Amongst these delegates were a host of adept project developers, financiers, industry experts, energy users, government officials and energy industry manufacturers. Revelations with reference to concerns regarding Africa’s energy access such as regional integration, disruptive business models, harnessing potential business opportunities in the energy space, innovative financing solutions as well as the impact of digitalisation on the energy sector were thoroughly explored. Influential dignitaries converged to devise efficacious solutions to not only address but abate the aforesaid energy access concerns.
Advancing grid technologies (e.g. micro, mini and off-grid solutions), renewable and cleaner energy solutions, energy storage and energy efficiency were among the other pertinent topics that were thoroughly unpacked at the 2019 Indaba.
The Africa Energy Indaba Exhibition once again proved its worth to companies involved in showcasing solutions to improve the challenges associated with Africa’s energy sector, including rural energy solutions, services for major energy projects, urbanization and energy needs as well as the implementation and management of renewable and sustainable energy projects. The Exhibition enabled companies to promote their solutions to local industry players, international investors, buyers and governments worldwide, offering innovative solutions to accommodate both current and future energy demands.
In view of Africa’s current energy concerns, the Africa Energy Indaba presented itself at an opportune time whereby key discussions stemming from this event provided invaluable business growth opportunities for Africa’s energy landscape, instigating much-needed transformation in this realm. The event served as the ideal platform from which to achieve Africa’s energy vision for a sustainable energy future and keep abreast of global energy competitors in this dynamic sector. The agenda of the 11th annual Africa Energy Indaba, rendered the event an invaluable investment of attendees’ time and resources and has subsequently set exceptionally high expectations for the upcoming 12th iteration which will undoubtedly live up to its revered success rate, fostering positive change to the energy sector and the economy as a whole.
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