Record breaking year of growth for East African Power Industry Convention in Nairobi

The 17th edition of the East African Power Industry Convention or EAPIC that took place in Nairobi in August more than doubled its attendance numbers and proved again why it is the longest running power show in the region. “We offered several new features to EAPIC this year, including a new venue, larger exhibition with free workshops, new awards gala dinner and the Clean Power East Africa conference track,” says EAPIC programme director Natalie Bacon, “and these all contributed to a hugely successful event!” 

More than 1500 participants from 40 countries attended EAPIC from 27-28 August, including from the region’s leading power utilities, large industries and investors as well as 69 technology and service providers who showcased their products at the exhibition at the KICC. Kenyan utility Kenya Power and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum were key partners again.

Some of the high-level speakers included South Sudan’s Minister of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation & Water Resources, the Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Djibouti’s Minister of Energy & Natural Resources, H.E. Ali Yacoub Mahamoud, and the Principal Secretary at the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Joseph Njoroge.

East African Power Industry Awards
The Kenya Electricity Generating Company or KenGen scored a double win at the inaugural East African Power Industry Awards during the gala dinner at EAPIC when the utility won the Outstanding Clean Power Award and also took top spot in the Excellence in Power Generation category. The awards honoured the outstanding power professionals and projects in the East African region.

Other popular winners were Dr Albert Butare, former Energy Minister of Rwanda who won the Lifetime Achievement Award for East Africa, as well as H.E. Dr Elham Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim from Ethiopia who is the African Union’s Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy who won the Outstanding Woman in Power, Regional Award East Africa.

Clean Power East Africa
Another first for the event was Clean Power East Africa, the dedicated track focusing on the abundance of natural resources in the region that make it attractive to renewable energy generation. The new track enabled delegates to learn more about the potential, technologies and processes for clean power.

Exhibition
The South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC) led a delegation of 25 companies to EAPIC, which was more than double the number of companies from last year and this was made possible by the Department of Trade and Industry (thedti) and supported by the South African High Commission in Kenya. Says SAEEC CEO Chiboni Evans: “our increased participation is also an indication of the importance South Africa ascribes to not only the power sector in Africa but to the East African region.”

Dates for 2016: 21-22 September 2016
Event location: KICC, Nairobi
www.eapicforum.com