The African Utility Week (AUW) conference and exhibition started at the Cape Town International Convention Centre today with some 5,000 power and water professionals in attendance.
The 5,000 professionals are from more than 60 different countries, with 27 of them African, and Brian Dames, chief executive officer (CEO) of Eskom and Edna Molewa, minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, among the most prominent.
The AUW event is described as the “largest utility gathering of its kind” on the African continent.
The conference’s main goal is to address the continuous challenges that utilities in Africa are faced with.
“The day to day challenges of the African utilities include getting the generation mix right so that they have the optimal balance of energy efficiency, but also the maximum energy security that they can ensure,” said Claire Volkwyn, programme director.
Volkwyn added: “This year we have greatly expanded our practical offering for visitors with a selection of 60 fee-to-attend, CPD-accredited technical workshops on the expo floor.
“The workshops offer practical take home solutions, demonstrations and practice installation opportunities for electricians, engineers and other power professionals in the metering, water, transmission and distribution, smart grids, hydro and renewable energy sectors.”
The conference also features an exclusive CEO Forum where utility heads from African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Sudan and Uganda will discuss strategic goals, regional cooperation, utility reform and reputation management as well as overcoming financial challenges.
