We are deeply committed to serving you with relevant content and learnings. And never has this been more necessary than now. We've invited the industry's leading experts to cover the hottest topics. Have a look at the programme below:

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13:00 SAT | 11:00 GMT | 12:00 WAT | 14:00 EAT | 13:00 CAT

This session will look at:

• Areas for private sector participation in the context of the African power sector
• Models for private sector participation
• Current challenges to private sector participation  
• The need for Power Sector reform and progress in the last 10 years
• Bank actions and programs in support of strengthening the enabling environment
• What does this mean for the Commerical and Industrial market?

Moderator: Romain Py, Chief Investment Officer, AIIM, South Africa

Panel Speakers:

• Angela Nalikka, Manager, National and Regional Power Systems, Power Systems Development Department | African Development Bank
• Terje Osmundsen, Founder/CEO | Empower New Energy, Kenya
• Liezl Harmse, Chief Utility Management Officer, African Development Bank
• Ajay Trikam, Director: Energy (Green Economy), Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, South Africa

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15:00 SAT | 13:00 GMT | 14:00 WAT | 16:00 EAT | 15:00 CAT
This session will look at:

New projections for economic growth in 2020 are in flux, but there is a suggestion emerging that the impact of COVID-19 creating lockdown situations around the world could significantly curb global carbon emission. The effect is likely to be less pronounced than during the global financial crises of 2008-9 and emission declines in response to past economic crises suggest a rapid recovery of emissions when the pandemic is over. 

But prudent spending of economic stimulus measure and permanent adoption of new work behaviours could influence how emissions evolve in the future.

Moderator: Claire Volkwyn, Editor, Smart Energy International

Panel speakers:

• Hiten Parmar, Director | uYilo e-Mobility Programme, South Africa
• Egmont Ottermann, Director | Resiliant Circular, South Africa
• Anthony Nyong, Director: Climate Change and Green Growth, African Development Bank, Cote d’Ivoire

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13:00 SAT | 11:00 GMT | 12:00 WAT | 14:00 EAT | 13:00 CAT
This session will look at:

• Advice for African utilities with inadequate capacity or financial limitations
• Where are the opportunities and growth areas for the private sector?
• What technologies and processes should be on the radar of African utilities?

Moderator: Nicolette Pombo- van Zyl, Editor, ESI Africa

Panel speakers:

• Nthabiseng Kubheka, Regional Service Executive | GE Steam Power: Sub- Saharan Africa, South Africa
• Riaan Meyer, Managing Director | GeoSun Africa, South Africa
• Obiri-Agyei Boakye, Senior Reliability & Asset Integrity Engineer | Eskom (Generation), South Africa
• Walter Umbricht, Sales Director | Distran, Switzerland

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15:00 SAT | 13:00 GMT | 14:00 WAT | 16:00 EAT | 15:00 CAT 

Stimulus and recovery measures in response to the pandemic must foster economic development and job creation, promote social equity and welfare, and put the world on a climate-safe path. By making the energy transition an integral part of the wider recovery, governments can achieve a step-change in the pursuit of a healthy, inclusive, prosperous, just and resilient future. We will discuss the energy transition In light of the financial havoc created by the COVID-19 pandemic and ask the following questions:

• How policy will support such a transition
• The role of renewable energy and the resulting need for job creation and skills development
• The role of each stakeholder in this transition
• Investments and fiscal support

Moderator: Claire Volkwyn, Editor, Smart Energy International

Panel speakers:

• Ursula Wellman, Community, Skills and Enterprise Development Project Specialist | Atlantis Special Economic Zone, South Africa
• Maloba G Tshehla, Head of Strategy and Growth | ED Platform, South Africa
• Silvia Piana, Head of Regulatory Affairs for Africa Region in the Global Power Generation Division | ENEL
• Abe Cambridge, Founder and CEO | The Sun Exchange, SA

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15:00 SAT | 13:00 GMT | 14:00 WAT | 16:00 EAT | 15:00 CAT
This session will look at:

• How then do we make sure that the most vulnerable of customers in low income households, many served by off-grid mini grids, remain connected in a time of crises? 
• What can mini-grid companies do to keep the lights on?

Confirmed Panel:
Moderator: Claire Volkwyn, Editor, Smart Energy International

Speaker Panel:

• Dr Sanusi Ohiare | Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency, Nigeria
• Dr Linda Davis | Giraffe BioEnergy, Kenya
• Aaron Leopold | Africa Mini-grid Developers Association, Kenya

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12:30 SAT | 10:30 GMT | 11:30 WAT | 13:30 EAT | 12:30 CAT
This session will look at:

• What are the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 and the best replicable practices worldwide to overcome a financial crisis?
• How can Utilities plan better for financial risks and crisis? 
• What solutions are available for African Utilities to improve their financial sustainability?

Moderator: Nomvuyo Tena, Conference Producer, African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa
Speaker Panel:

• Gadi Taj Ndahumba, Head of Power Sector | African Legal Support Facility(ALSF), Côte d'Ivoire
• Batchi Baldeh, Director | Power Systems Development Department, African Development Bank, Côte d'Ivoire
• Yadviga Semikolenova, Senior Energy Economist | World Bank, United States of America
• Johan Greyling, Partner - EY (Transaction Advisory Services) Energy & Natural | Ernst & Young, South Africa
• Abel Tella, Director General | Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA), Côte d'Ivoire

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15:00 SAT | 13:00 GMT | 14:00 WAT | 16:00 EAT | 15:00 CAT
This session will look at:

• Myth busters - tackling the threat of false information: current research findings on whether water is a possible medium of transmission of COVID-19.
• Water and healthcare (can hospitals cope with increased water needs and will utilities match supply with demand?) 
• How can water utilities and municipalities build resilience towards increasing freshwater management and sanitation facilities? 
• Will the flow of much-needed development assistance towards the water and sanitation sector in developing countries be affected by the COVID-19 response as donor countries focus resources on addressing the pandemic within their borders? 
• How to integrate urban water (potable water, wastewater and stormwater), with blue-green solutions?
• How is COVID-19 affecting African water professionals through partnerships and exchange programmes, conferences, etc. (what are the current coping strategies being deployed?)

Moderator:

• Paul Yillia, Research Scholar (Water Programme), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria

Panel Speakers:

• Rose Kaggwa, Director Business and Scientific Services | National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Uganda 
• David Onyango, Former Managing Director | Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company, Current Consultant, AFDB, Côte d'Ivoire 
• Dhesigen Naidoo, CEO | Water Research Commission, South Africa 
• Feleke Zewge Beshah, Associate Professor of Environmental Chemistry/Engineering | Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

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13:00 SAT | 11:00 GMT | 12:00 WAT | 14:00 EAT | 13:00 CAT
The impact a crisis has on the revenue management of local municipalities.  Looking at the following key components: 

• Constricted revenue collection capabilities
• Efficient and equitable use of available cash resources

Confirmed Panel:

Moderator: Peet Du Plessis, President, CIGFARO, South Africa
Speaker Panel:

• Dr Dirk Brand, Senior Lecturer Extraordinary | University of Stellenbosch School of Public Leadership, South Africa
• Miyelani Holeni, Group Chief Advisor | Ntiyiso Consulting, South Africa
• Roland Hunter, Director and Specialist Consultant | Hunter van Ryneveld (Pty) Ltd, South Africa
   

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