| EDC second annual roundtable focuses on renewable energy |
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The Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a division of CEF (Pty) Ltd, will be hosting its second annual roundtable on 3 April 2007 in Sandton, Johannesburg. The topic this year is renewable energy, with sessions to cover issues from technologies available to financing mechanisms and the latest developments in biofuels. Presentations have been selected with an emphasis on new developments in the sector, with representatives coming from government and industry. The day's proceedings will be followed by a gala dinner. The EDC roundtable has developed into a major platform for dialogue among key decision makers in the burgeoning arena of alternative and renewable energy. Says Busi Nxumalo, EDC's business and marketing analyst: "When people think renewable energy, they think EDC - we are positioning ourselves as pivotal players in the field." EDC's vision is "to be the leading promoter, facilitator and developer of commercially viable and sustainable alternative energy solutions". To this end EDC has been so successful that the organisers of the roundtable have been compelled to limit attendance at this year's roundtable to by invitation only. The proceedings of the conference will be published on the website next week. So far, 150 delegates have been confirmed. Nxumalo says that the choice of presentations was based on an attempt to "get away from preaching to the converted - we have some interesting new developments to showcase". A session on biofuels will outline the Department of Minerals and Energy's strong national biofuels strategy, hot on the heels of its recent biofuels roadshow across the country. Representatives from the feedstock, maize and sugar industries will present their tactics, while a commodities trader will share experiences from that sector. A speaker on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) will describe how he came to be the person with the most success in getting projects passed by the Designated National Authority. A legal expert will outline the international climate regime and its implications in the South African context. A strong proponent for the formation of a CDM association will sketch ideas for streamlining the application process and project methodology, with a view to the formation of an organizational body that would eliminate the current duplication between competing parties. With regard to financing, there are a few presentations with concrete examples of how renewable energy has been financed so far, in particular, those undertaken by the IDC. A speaker from the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry will outline black economic empowerment aspects of financing renewable energy technologies, as well as export opportunities. Other themes encompass partnerships in renewable energy projects, and opportunities for financing social development projects as well as pilot projects and other implementation roll-outs. The EDC is mandated by CEF to investigate appropriate energy solutions and takes an equity stake investment. Since its establishment in 2004, the EDC has played an important role in nurturing viable investments in modern renewable energy, energy efficiency and low-smoke fuel industries. It continues to play a significant role in advancing the goal of the Department of Minerals and Energy to reach a renewable energy target of 10 000 GW/h by 2013. |
