Strong focus on geothermal at EAPIC in Nairobi in September

“There is no one size fits all approach to developing geothermal. It's an amazing source of base load, renewable energy, but we have to take a realistic approach to how it's developed” – this is according to Amanda Lonsdale, Institutional and Commercial Development Advisor for the East Africa Geothermal Energy Facility (*EAGER). During the upcoming East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC) in Nairobi in September, Amanda is the moderator of the geothermal development conference track.

*EAGER was established by the British Department for International Development (DFID) to facilitate the development of geothermal energy for power generation and other uses in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

Focus on geothermal
The EAPIC conference and exhibition takes place for the 18th time this year and is expected to gather more than 2000 visitors from more than 30 countries, including from the region’s leading power utilities, large industries and investors as well as dozens of technology and service providers who will showcase their products at the KICC in Nairobi from 21-22 September. During the conference, there will be a strong focus on geothermal, including sessions on geothermal business models for the region, financial de-risking and a look at critical factors for an enabling environment for geothermal development.

“Estimated geothermal potential in the region is more than double the current peak demand, so the potential impact is significant” says Amanda Lonsdale. She adds: “geothermal does have to compete with traditionally less expensive energy sources such as hydro and gas for its position in a country's base load, so it's unlikely to become the dominant source for base load power, but it could displace more expensive, less clean sources”.

She continues: “my vision would be to jumpstart geothermal development in the region through a series of smaller projects that can be quickly developed and financed to show early success to governments and developers, increase interest and investment in further development.”

As moderator of the geothermal conference track at EAPIC Amanda Lonsdale’s message will be that: “there is no one size fits all approach to developing geothermal. It's an amazing source of base load, renewable energy, but we have to take a realistic approach to how it's developed, taking into account (first and foremost) the resource itself, the regulatory regimes, and technical and financial capabilities of the countries. People need to educate themselves about geothermal, and to listen to experts who have successfully developed projects in the past.”

More EAPIC conference programme and speaker highlights include:

A. Inspirational Leadership Keynotes:

• Kwame Parker, Executive and Regional Head Power and Infrastructure East Africa, Stanbic Bank, Kenya

• Smart Africa: Leading Technological Transformation
Jesse Moore, CEO, M-Kopa, Kenya

• Determined leadership fast tracking a powerful and sustainable East African economic bloc
Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary General, EAC East African Community, Tanzania

• Energy Saving Procurement Contracts
Hellen Odegi, CEO, Skylon Group & Board Member, KEPSA Energy and Security Sectors, Kenya

B. Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) Master Plan – Reaping the Benefits of Regional Power Integration

- The EAPP Ten-Year Strategic Plan and Road Map
Lebbi Changullah, Secretary General, EAPP, Ethiopia

- Regional power integration - funding power generation and large scale regional projects
Ana Hajduka, CEO, AfricaGreenCo, UK

C. Country spotlights
Moderator: Ayuli Jemide, Executive Chair, Advisory Board, Project & Transaction Resources (PTRL)

- Country Investment Focus – Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi
- Country Investment Focus – Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda
- Country Investment Focus - Djibouti, South Sudan, Eritrea

D. Closing session: What does the Future Hold for the East Africa Energy Market?
Chairperson: Albert Butare, Former Minister of State for Energy, Water and Communication in the Republic of Rwanda and CEO of Africa Energy Services Group, Rwanda

- Eng. Isaac N. Kiva, Director, Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy & Petroleum, Kenya
- Victoria Cuming, Head of Policy – Europe, Middle East & Africa, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), UK

Industry support
As in previous years of this long running, flagship event in the region, EAPIC has already secured impressive industry support, including from Lucy Electric, a global secondary distribution leader in the electricity sector, who are this year’s platinum sponsor. “EAPIC presents the perfect opportunity to showcase our products, services and leading expertise to one of our key growth markets’ says Phil Dingle, Lucy Electric’s marketing director. Gold sponsors that have signed up so far for this year’s event are Poweroad Africa and Stanbic Bank.

EAPIC dates and location:
Pre-conference Masterclass: 20 September 2016
Conference and exhibition: 21-22 September 2016
Site visits: 23 September 2016
Event location: KICC, Nairobi, Kenya

EAPIC is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK. Other flagship events in Spintelligent’s power portfolio on the continent are African Utility Week, the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC), iPAD Rwanda Power & Mining Investment Forum and iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum.

Website: http://www.eapicforum.com
Senior communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone: +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.com
Postal address: PO Box 321, Steenberg, 7947, South Africa

This release was published on openPR.