Introduction | Why attend? | Highlights| Audience profile

Introduction

Hydropower Africa 2008 aims to bring the private sector and financiers together with utilities and government representatives to allow hydro to gain traction in Africa. Only 10% of Africa’s hydropower potential has been developed. If 20 000MW could be implemented in the next 10 years, the benefits in terms of growth, employment and poverty alleviation would be huge. Thus, Hydropower Africa 2008 has the objective of building on the Ministerial Conferences on Hydropower by directly engaging the private sector – financiers, investors, manufacturers, engineers and environmentalists – and getting this group as involved as government in hydropower. Hydropower Africa 2008 aims to explore further the vast potential for hydro in Africa by providing the platform for the good selection and presentation of projects, examination of risks between private and public parties and the financing implications for this kind of investment.

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Why attend?

• Understand the business potential and risks involved in investment in hydro projects in Africa
• Review strategic projects in the pipe-line
• Network with investors, suppliers, utility decision-makers and government
• Gain solutions on how to bridge the gap between the private and the public sector
• Learn about the environmental impacts of hydro projects on communities
• Focus on the implementation of projects

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Highlights

Hydropower Africa 2008 offers a one-day pre-conference seminar:
The Environmental Impacts of Hydropower Projects pre-conference seminar will provide a holistic overview of the environmental and social issues surrounding the implementation of hydro projects. Included will be sessions on EMS - how to implement systems for projects whereby countries can identify environmental impacts, set goals, manage them and implement plans to meet those objectives as well as evaluate performance and make improvements. Sustainable hydropower is also an important consideration for African projects and issues such as environmental flows, erosion and sedimentation, biodiversity, siting and design of dams will be examined. Finally, the seminar will conclude with a look at the social issues – relocation, involving local communities and capacity building when planning projects. Various case studies will be the point of reference for discussion.

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Audience profile

Utilities

Utility managers Engineers Generation managers Renewable energy managers Government Directors of Energy Directors of Water Management Directors of Environment

Finance

Bankers Development banks Multilateral lending organisations Investors

Other stakeholders

Associations (hydropower associations, engineer associations) Regulatory bodies Financial consultants/investors Media

Vendors

Hydro construction companies Contract manufacturers Equipment and services providers

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