Eskom confirms partnership with African Utility Week 2012

African Utility Week director, Claire Volkwyn says, "I am thrilled that we have confirmed both Eskom and the City of Johannesburg, including City Power, Johannesburg Water and Pickitup as official participants to African Utility Week."

"Eskom have been a key partner for us for many years and we are pleased to continue this partnership with them as our host utility for 2012. Our relationship with the City of Johannesburg is equally important to us and we hope that this will be the first year in a long and engaging relationship. Our aim, as always with African Utility Week, is to increase knowledge, empower our utility sector and encourage information sharing across the continent."

The event will have a strong focus on renewable energy and will be supported by the green energy sector. Volkwyn says that this is an exciting time in the development of renewable energy in South Africa, "we have seen the recent announcement of the first 28 preferred bidders for the renewable energy programme and this will provide some 1 400MW of power to the South African grid from wind and solar projects. This is just the first part of an extensive renewable energy programme, which plans for some 3 700MW of renewable energy as part of the Integrated Resource Plan for South Africa."

"Africa needs to develop its power infrastructure in order to continue pushing economic development. Many countries in Africa are already pursuing a cleaner, greener strategy for development within the power sector and we must continue to do so with vigour." says Volkwyn.

For more, go to [www.african-utility-week.com]]