Solutions for a new energy future in Africa

The crippling effect of the energy crisis is taking its toll on countries within the African region. If economies continue to grow and the demand for increased capacity rises, the continent will continue to experience challenges with regards to energy shortages.

Experts on energy efficiency have noted that Africa has vast energy resources which far exceed energy requirements of the region however, most of these resources are grossly underutilised, particularly natural gas and hydro resources. Therefore the key challenge faced by Africa is to ensure the optimal utilisation of the region's energy resources to facilitate individual country, regional energy and economic development.

At present Africa is searching for solutions that will address these energy challenges. African countries in collaboration with the World Bank are making significant progress in compiling strategies for energy conservation within their respective countries. Proposed projects include the building of a solar-powered university in Nigeria, the converting of crop waste into fuel in Cote d'Ivoire and the development of a wind farm in Senegal.

Liz Hart, managing director of Siyenza Management, organisers of the conference, says, “The Energy Conference and Exhibition is a unique and focused business forum aimed at creating a platform in Africa for the exploration of alternate and renewable energy sources, exploring existing energy challenges, and solutions for the future including energy management technologies. The exhibition will provide the ideal networking climate for companies and individuals to obtain information on the latest technology trends available globally and to explore alternate and sustainable energy resources.”

The Energy Solutions for Africa Conference will focus on the following topics:

• The state of global energy security
  
• Scenarios for our energy future
  
• The role of energy policy in creating security of energy supplies
  
• International relations and energy: The politics of energy
  
• The political economies of global energy
  
• Global energy infrastructure required for the future
  
• The future of energy: Growth spurts or growing pains?
  
• Energy finance for the 21st century

Additional workshops will encompass:

• Green energy and climate change
  
• Alternative energy Resources - the way forward
  
• Diversification of energy resources, i.e. Hydro, wind, nuclear, gas
  
• The economics of sustainable energy systems
  
• International energy management trends and the way forward for Africa
  
• Diversification of energy Supplies, ie. Lesotho, Angola
  
• Development of energy resources: challenges for Africa and action plans renewable energy
  “Energy for development energisation and rural development.”
  
• Investments in energy Sector, potential for African development
  
• Linkages between energy and development strategies across Africa

Case Studies include:

• Small scale and renewable energy projects in Africa
  
• Renewable: sustainable production, efficient and clean transformation of biomass, solar, wind, and hydro

The event is aimed at becoming an annual event on the African business calendar attracting both global as well as regional participation from Africa and is aimed at becoming the definitive platform for energy dialogue across the continent.