Charlotte Aubin-Kalaidjian, CEO, Greenwish Partners, an independent power producer is one of the featured keynote speakers during the opening session of the upcoming Future Energy Central Africa in Yaoundé from 2-3 October that will focus on the renewable energy potential of the region
“The business case for renewables, particularly solar energy, is now proven in many countries, particularly those dependent on oil and gas imports. And the cost of renewables can only go down.” This is according to Charlotte Aubin-Kalaidjian, CEO, Greenwish Partners, an independent power producer. She adds, “for instance it is predicted that the solar power installed capacity could well rise from 15 to 62 GW by 2030, and at a competitive cost.”
Mrs Aubin-Kalaidjian is a featured keynote speaker during the opening session of the upcoming Future Energy Central Africa in Yaoundé from 2-3 October. Her presentation will focus on: “Investing in a clean and sustainable future: the energy revolution in Central Africa.”
The Greenwish Partners CEO, who was this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award in Power at the African Utility Week Industry Awards in Cape Town, says, “solar energy is developing well in Southern, Northern and Western Africa but is slower to take off in Central Africa. But the fundamentals are basically the same. The region is working at improving the regulatory framework.”
She continues, “One of the key challenges for the growth of alternative energies is the differential tax and subsidy treatment between renewables and other technologies. Governments should also look at increasing capacity to provide sovereign guarantees and equip them with the best and brightest to deal with the private sector.”
Future Energy Central Africa, formerly known as iPAD Cameroon Energy Infrastructure Forum, has evolved into a strategic regional gathering that will allow neighbouring Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe to share their expertise, project developments and plans in order to facilitate regional grid integration. Encouraging private and public collaboration to make energy deals happen is also high on the agenda.
The Central African Power Pool is an official partner of the event while two regional energy ministers, namely Hon. Léopold Mboli Fatran, the Central African Republic’s Minister of Mines, Energy and Hydraulics, and Hon. Eugenio Edu Ndong, Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Energy and Industry, have already been confirmed to take part in the ministerial discussion panel.
The event once again enjoys widespread support from the industry with the global electrical services giant Siemens returning as the gold sponsor, while Conlog, Clarke Energy and Voith are also sponsoring again.
The strategic conference will take place 2-3 October 2017 at Hilton Yaoundé Hotel, Boulevard du 20 Mai, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
