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PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release 24 February 2010
POWER INDUSTRY HEROES REWARDED AT AFRICAN UTILITY WEEK
On the eve of Nersa announcement, minister Dipuo Peters says government
not in favour of rapid rates increases
The CEO of Zimbabwe’s electricity utility, Zesa (Zimbabwe Electric Supply Authority), Engineer Benjamin Rafemoyo, was named the Utility CEO of the Year at this year’s African Utility Week in Durban. Some 1700 power professionals from over 50 countries descended on Durban for the 10th event, the largest utility event on the continent.
The editor of power trade journal ESI Africa, Nicholas McDiarmid, said at the awards ceremony during the opening session, that Engineer Rafemoyo has had a formidable job managing a utility that has been hard hit by Zimbabwe’s country’s challenges. “Apart from losing almost 70% if its professional staff to the diaspora, its tariffs were of exceedingly low value – yet through all this, our winner has managed through creativity, ingenuity and tenacity to sustain high levels of reliability with circumstantially low levels of load shedding by striking clever deals with the likes of Nampower and ensuring ongoing imports from neighbouring countries,” said Nicholas McDiarmid.
Other industry prizes that were awarded:
The 6th Power Station Manager of the Year Award was won by Christo van Niekerk of Matimba Power Station.
ESI Africa Excellence Awards:
Best Metering Company: Conlog
Best Consultant: Kwezi V3
Best Service Provider: CBI African Cables
Best Equipment Supplier: Beka
The Metering International Award honoured the most innovative implementation of a revenue protection programme in an African utility: Conlog won for their Khayelitsha Revenue Protection Project.
Nersa announcement
On the eve of the Nersa announcement on electricity priceincreases expected on Wednesday, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said during Tuesday’s African Utility Week and Power Indaba opening ceremony that there was an estimated R27-billion backlog in the maintenance of the distribution network.
"While the Department of Energy is not in favour of rapid increases in rates, there is a need to invest in power stations and we need to reassure those that don't have electricity that they will be connected," she said.
For more information contact:
Communications Manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Phone: +27 (0) 21 700-3500 EXT: 3558
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 562 7844
Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.com
For more events by Spintelligent: www.spintelligent-events.com
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PRESS RELEASE: for immediate publication 19 February 2010
Eskom is ready for 2010 says power industry expert
on the eve of African Utility Week
Eskom has done “exemplary work” in ensuring consistent power supply for the FIFA World Cup says Nicholas McDiarmid, industry expert and editor of ESI Africa, a power industry magazine. On the eve of African Utility Week, the largest power and energy conference and exhibition in Africa, which starts in Durban on Monday McDiarmid praised the South Afrian utility giant for doing “exemplary work in ensuring consistent power supply for the FIFA World Cup and co-ordinating regional co-operation among South Africa’s neighbouring countries at a scale never seen before.”
According to McDiarmid, apart from the logistics, the regulatory compliance issues, the tariff agreements and the endless meetings that the project has required, there was also the mammoth task pulling it altogether from a technical and engineering standpoint. “Eskom can hold its head high”, he says, “it has done its country and Africa as a whole proud. The FIFA World Cup may not have happened yet, but Eskom and the regional utilities are ready.“
Some 2000 power professionals from over 60 countries will descend on Durban from 22-25 February for the 10th annual African Utility Week, the largest utility event on the continent. The event unites senior power industry executives and decision makers, representing the key stakeholders from the entire power utility eco-system, focusing on power infrastructure investment, renewable energy and new industry technologies.
South African Energy minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters will open the conference at the ICC on Tuesday 23 February and outline her “Vision 2014: Where will the energy sector be in the next 4 years?”.
For interviews, media accreditation or more information contact:
Communications Manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Phone: +27 (0) 21 700-3500 EXT: 3558
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 562 7844
Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.com
For more events by Spintelligent: www.spintelligent-events.com
Previous press releases
19 February 2010: Global generator giant goes from helping Haiti to
boosting Botswana’s power facilities - African Utility Week
Exhibition
10 February 2010: Green=Clean: Focus on renewables at African Utility Week
03 December 2009: Minister Dipuo Peters to highlight energy needs for 2010
17 November 2009: Leadership debate on driving investment for power in Africa could encourage positive
economic impact
16 November 2009: Suzlon Wind Energy A/S sees potential in African Wind Power
12 November 2009: Minister Barbara Hogan brings unique perspective to driving investment within the African utility sector
16 October 2009: Modern day hero gives keynote address at African Utility Week
14 October 2009: Eskom to host the largest power and utility event in Africa
Media contact
For media enquiries, accreditation and speaker interviews contact:
Annemarie Roodbol
Marketing Manager
Phone: +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.com
For more information on the event contact:
Claire Volkwyn
Conference Director
Phone:
+27 21 700 3559
Email:
claire.volkwyn@spintelligent.com
More events by Spintelligent: www.spintelligent-events.com
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