‘Sustainable hydropower as a feasible solution to Africa’s energy need’ is the focus of the Hydropower Africa Conference happening at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg from 16 to 20 August.

A bright future lies ahead for hydropower in Africa as a critical component of Africa’s energy mix. The resource uses proven technology and is easily accessible across the region.

Africa’s hydropower resources have the potential to significantly contribute to solving the region’s power problems. It is readily available and produces cheaper and cleaner electricity than other traditional resources. By 2020, it is expected that hydropower will account for 52% of West Africa (excluding Nigeria) and 79% of East Africa’s total new additional generation capacity.

At least 20, 000MW of hydropower capacity could be added to sub-Saharan Africa’s hydropower capacity by 2015 through both refurbishments of existing old plants and the construction of new projects. A significant number of international IPPs are also exploring opportunities to use Africa’s hydro resources to generate private power.

ESI Africa’s Hydropower Africa 2010 is a niche meeting forum where comprehensive workshops, presentations, panel discussions and focused sessions will address the issues surrounding the financing and the sustainable implementation of hydropower projects in Africa – both large and small.

Hydropower Africa 2010 will bring real insight into creative solutions for capacity planning and resource management. Sustainable practices for hydropower project assessment, preparation, implementation, operation, retro-fitting, modernisation and maintenance are also examined through real-life case studies and project evaluations.

Project finance, infrastructure development and African-appropriate engineering solutions to provide power to villages, rural areas and urban communities will be debated and discussed.

Hydropower Africa 2010 will bring you real-life case examples of sustainable hydropower as a feasible solution to Africa’s generation.