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Omega’s 8^th Annual European Conference Series on Africa took place on 14 March 2006 in London , UK .  The theme of the conference was Southern Africa 's Energy Future: Investment, Environment & Innovation.  Hosted by “Africa Law Firm of the Year 2005” LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae and lead-sponsored by PetroSA, the conference was highly successful and attracted more than 100 participants from 10 countries involved in the energy sector, project development and finance including representatives from the public and private sectors, utilities and parastatals, NGOs, media, and academia.

 The theme was highly topical in view of:

- growing energy demands in the region (average increase of 3% annually), which will result in peak capacity shortages from as soon as 2007

- the resulting need for new investments in the power sector (Africa's largest utility Eskom’s plans to spend close to £10 billion over the next few years on upgrading and expanding existing capacities and increasing energy efficiency),

- government's renewable energy targets (the South African Government aims to generate 4% of total projected electricity through renewable energy sources by 2013),

- global climate change concerns, and

- the Kyoto Protocol's entering into force in 2005 allowing South Africa to sell carbon credits (CERs) generated from emission reduction projects (CDM projects) to the developed world.

Speakers:

An expert panel of speakers provided an excellent overview of the major challenges and opportunities in the Southern African energy sector. 

Session 1: Southern Africa’s Energy Sector
Chairperson: Dr Denis Worrall, Chairman, Omega Investment Research 
-Steven Beharrell, Senior Counsel, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae
-Dr Faizel Mulla, Corporate Strategy Manager, PetroSA
-Lawrence Agbemabiese, Programme Manager, United Nations Environment Programme, Energy Unit 
-Dr Steve Lennon, Managing Director: Resources & Strategy at Eskom

Session 2: Sustainable Solutions for Southern Africa’s Energy Sector
Chairperson: Ian Walker, Head Secretariat, Windsor Energy Group 
- Ivan Youd, Deputy Head of Unit - Power Sector, UK Trade & Investment 
- Dr Barry Holmes, Renewable Energy Trade Promoter, Trade Promotion Service, UK DTI
- Chris Grant, Associate Director, Scott Wilson
- Graham Stowell, Managing Director, Bronzeoak
- Malcolm Wells, Communications Manager, SasolChevron

Session 3: Climate Change, Kyoto and Emissions Trading                                      
Chairperson: Steven Beharrell, Senior Counsel, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae
 - Lwazikazi Tyani, Director: Designated National Authority, Department of Minerals and Energy, South Africa
- William Greene, Environmental Specialist, africapractice
- Dr Robert Rabinowitz, Senior Adviser, Chicago Climate Exchange
- Mike Bess, Senior Consultant, Energy for Sustainable Development (ESD)
- Ian Emsley, Manager Safety, Health and Environment Policy Unit, Anglo American

Venue

LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae
No. 1 Minster Court
Mincing Lane
London EC3R 7YL
UK
Tel: +44 207 459 5000 (Ms Jo Poulson)

Photos:

Speakers Photos:

Contact Details:

For further information about this event please contact Omega Investment Research:

Denise Koehler Spaull

General Manager: Corporate Strategy

Omega Investment Research

Cape Town South Africa

Tel.: +27 (0) 21 689 7881

Fax: +27 (0) 21 686 4361

Cell: +27 (0) 83 208 9508

Email: denise@omegainvest.co.za