This is a very exciting time for the electricity sector across West Africa says WAPIC sponsor Lucy Electric

“Forward-looking governments in the region are proactively developing infrastructure and we anticipate continued investment in the short and medium term. As such this is a very exciting time for the electricity sector across West Africa and at Lucy Electric we hope to play a key part in helping to make this a reality.” This is according to Rick St John, Regional Director Africa at Lucy Electric, a global secondary distribution leader in the electricity sector and a platinum sponsor at the upcoming West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) in Lagos in November.

WAPIC, a flagship, regional conference and exhibition, will return to Lagos with an exciting interactive programme that reflects the dynamic energy landscape of the region and will once again attract some 2000 power professionals, high-level experts and industry stalwarts during the 13th edition of the event.

Access to electricity still a major challenge
Says Lucy Electric’s Rick St John: “Access to electricity is still a major challenge across West Africa, for example only 45% of the population in Nigeria has direct access to electricity. The Nigerian government is aiming to increase this to 75% of the population by 2020 and we see a similar story in many countries in the region. We expect this investment in infrastructure and the development of more reliable and stable supplies to create many new opportunities in the short and medium term.”

He adds: “there is also increasing interest in renewable energy projects across the region, which present a smaller risk, with a much quicker and quantifiable payback. As a result we are seeing increasing investment in these projects.”

According to Rick “Lucy Electric has been active in West Africa for a long time and we are looking forward to continuing to grow our business here. We will be focusing on our automation product range at WAPIC, which has been designed to deliver enhanced network intelligence for our customers, the highest levels of operational efficiency and facilitate easy flexible upgrades to meet our customers’ changing needs.

Innovation Hub
During WAPIC, SMEs, start-ups and young innovators will be given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their new solutions, game changing technology and inventions for the power industry at the Innovation Hub taking place as part of the event. Part of the programme of the Innovation Hub is a look at specific, identified problem sets in the power sector where innovation and new technologies can make a huge difference.

Industry awards
The third edition of the hugely successful West African Power Industry Awards will also take place at this year’s WAPIC during a gala dinner evening when industry pioneers and projects will be recognised and celebrated in seven different categories.

WAPIC dates and location:
Pre-conference Masterclass: 22 November 2016
Documentary screening, ‘Nowhere to Run’: 22 November 2016
Conference and exhibition: 23-24 November 2016
West African Power Industry Awards: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Site visit: 25 November 2016
Event location: Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, Nigeria

WAPIC 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 East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC), iPAD Rwanda Energy Infrastructure Forum and iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum.

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

This release was published on openPR.