A key focus point of the African Energy Indaba (AEI) – which celebrates its ten-year milestone next year – is to provide access to project opportunities across the African continent.

The project opportunities include small, offgrid or decentralised energy solutions or large-scale renewable energy.

“What we aim to do is to bring the investor, the financier and the project developer to the event to give them access to opportunities so that, ultimately, we can find solutions to Africa’s energy challenges,” AEI MD Liz Hart noted at the Ambassador’s Briefing last month at the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel, in Pretoria.

The briefing focused on introducing the 2018 event and also providing delegates, media and ambassadors with up-to-date information relating to the tenth AEI, which will run from February 19 to 23 next year at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Expecting more than 1 000 participants to attend, Hart noted that the event would host a large number of exhibitors, as well as more than 3 000 visitors.

“We would really like to grow the event and include more African com- panies and delegates, as well as increase global participation in the event,” she enthused.

During the briefing, AEI chairperson Brian Statham said, as the event is the AEI’s tenth anniversary, it is highly relevant to companies that are actively involved in all areas wishing to showcase solutions for the benefit of Africa.

The event will include an invitation-only Ministerial dialogue, forums, focus workshops and a site visit, as well as host the fourth Women in Energy Conference.

The AEI will also host the eighth Nuclear Forum, which Hart noted was “well supported by all major vendors of the event, as certain African countries are looking at nuclear as an alternative energy option”.

Meanwhile, AEI trade association partner South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC) CEO Chiboni Evans noted that the SAEEC aimed to secure the participation of key stakeholders in the energy sector, such as investors.

The SAEEC will also be launching its African Energy Consultants at the event. These consultants will ensure engagement with projects on the African continent, thereby increasing African content within African projects.

In addition, Hart noted that more than 30 SAEEC member companies would be exhibiting at the AEI exhibition.

In attendance at the briefing were the ambassadors of Belgium, HRG Cooreman, Niger, Rakiatou Mayaki, and Norway, Trine Skymoen, as well as Switzerland, Helen Budliger, and Poland, Andzej Kanthak.