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AIX: Nairobi 2018

3-4 October 2018

Africa Investment Exchange: Nairobi

Power & Renewables Executive Briefing

3-4 October 2018

AIX: Nairobi builds on past AIX: Power and Renewables meetings, which have brought together project developers, suppliers of off-grid services, policy-makers, established and non-traditional investment sources and other stakeholders to discuss the issues and challenges facing investors in clean energy projects in Africa.

AIX: Nairobi was sponsored by the African Trade Insurance Agency and InfraCo Africa, supported by GreenMax Capital Advisors and the UK Department for International Trade and co-produced by African Energy. Held under the Chatham House Rule and structured through a series of panel-led sessions, the meeting was limited to 90 senior executives and provided a rare opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the issues and challenges facing clean energy projects in East and Southern Africa.

Download the final AIX: Nairobi agenda

Agenda highlights:

  • The state of the industry: is East Africa long on power or is under-supply a constraint on growth?
  • Acceleration in off-grid consumption: is it forcing a reassessment of centralised generation?
  • Strategies for developing a baseload mix
  • Strengthening the grid and increasing access
  • FIT, negotiated deals and renewable energy auctions
  • Stimulating local capital markets and improving access to local finance
  • Mini-grid auctions and other options
  • Industry’s paradigm shift – analysis of the ways commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers are developing and financing their own generation capacity
  • Finance: energy as a consumer service

Participants also benefited from exclusive analysis based on African Energy Live Data – our unique platform that combines a range of analytics tools with project level detail of more than 5,000 power plants across the continent that are operating, planned or under construction.

Keep me updated on AIX: Nairobi and other AIX meetings.

DAY 1 - AIX Nairobi

09:00 to 10:30

State of the industry

  • Findings extrapolated from the African Energy Live Data platform will provide unique insights into continental electricity supply industry trends, project pipelines and demand growth projections.
  • How to integrate power with national industrialisation progammes.
  • Is East Africa long on power or is under-supply a constraint on growth?
  • Acceleration in off-grid consumption: is it forcing a reassessment of centralised generation?
  • Tariffs versus solvency: the future power utility business model

10:30 Coffee

11:00 to 12:00

Strengthening the grid and increasing access

  • Strategies to strengthen the grid, finance the ‘last mile’ and reduce network losses.
  • What mechanisms should be developed to integrate private sector thinking more effectively into public policy? What PPP structures and other solutions are there to transmission shortfalls?
  • Tariffs that reflect cost of upgrading and building new transmission and distribution infrastructure.
  • How should existing grid networks, grid extension, grid edge and fully off-grid coexist?
  • How storage can help strengthen the grid.

12:00 to 13:00

Generating baseload

  • Strategies for developing a baseload mix (coal, geothermal, hydropower and natural gas).
  • Balancing the (and off-) grid
  • The transmission challenge for high voltage producers and consumers

13:00 Lunch

15:45 to 17:00

Strategies to increase generation - auctions, FiT and negotiated deals

  • What options are available to increase power- generating capacity?
  • Understanding and managing governance, systems and process design issues.
  • How do countries move from FiT to auctions systems?
  • Best practices for negotiating PPAs.
17:00 Reception

DAY 2 – AIX Nairobi

09:00 to 10:30

Early stage development

  • Structuring early stage risk and project preparation facilities: is it still a major problem?
  • What are the barriers to reaching financial close and how can these be overcome?
  • Tackling corruption and other governance issues?

10:30 Coffee

11:00 to 12:30

Stimulating local capital

Encouraging a greater role for local entities in power projects, improving access to long-term funding in local currency, strengthening the capacity of local markets and creating opportunities for local investors.

  • Stimulating local capital markets and improving access to local finance
  • Islamic finance legal matters
  • Mitigating currency and liquidity risks
  • Blending local finance and impact investors
  • Perspective from stock markets and pension funds
12:30 Lunch

13:30 to 14:30

Scaling-up mini-grids

Issues include:

  • Working mini-grid into regulatory frameworks and government strategies;
  • Mini-grid auctions and other options;
  • Creating investment instruments that take mini-grid beyond its current subsidised models.

14:45 to 15:45

Industry’s paradigm shift – embedded power and other independent solutions

Analysis of the ways commercial and industrial consumers are developing their own generation capacity, and the extent this is likely to grow across the continent, including input from manufacturing and mining industries.

15:45 Coffee

 

16:00 to 17:00

Finance: energy as a consumer service

It worked for telecoms and, increasingly, it seems it can work for electricity access. This session will discuss financial instruments and strategies, and new approaches to consumers in a period when millions more Africans are becoming financially empowered and buying a range of basic services.

  • The role of mobile operators and large corporations in off-grid solar power.
  • What new sources of funding, including institutional investment, are available?
  • Strategies for catalyzing more local capital, both on the equity and debt sides.
  • Impact investors and charitable enterprises – critical so far, but a transitional phase?
  • Equity – attracting private finance, conventional developers, developing local partnerships. Are new commercial models emerging as quickly as we are told?
  • Debt – the role of concessionary finance, operating with local banks and other institutions.

 

Organisations participating at AIX Nairobi include:

Utilities, regulators and officials
Department for International Trade (UK), Electricity Regulatory Authority (Uganda), Energy Regulatory Commission (Kenya), Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Tanzania), GET FiT Zambia, Kenya Power and Lighting Company, KenGen, Ministry of Energy (Kenya), Rural Electrification Agency (Uganda)

Power generation
Astonfield Solar, BayWa r.e, Berkeley Energy, Engie, GigaWatt Global, Globeleq, Jinko Solar, Kenergy Renewables, KTDA Power Company, Powerhive, Quantum Power, responsAbility Africa, Scatec Solar, Tembo Power, Tesla, Virunga Power

Off-grid
Astonfield Solar, Azuri Technologies, CrossBoundary Energy, Energy Access Ventures Africa, Green Mini-Grid Facility, GSMA, Oxygen Africa, PowerGen Renewable Energy, Renewvia Energy

Development finance
African Trade Insurance Agency, CDC Group, Climate Fund Manager, European Investment Bank, FMO, IFC, Industrial Promotion Services, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Proparco, US Trade and Development Agency

Finance and investment
Actis, Adenium Energy Capital, African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), Centum, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, Inspired Evolution Investment Management, Lion’s Head Global Partners, Meridiam, Nedbank, Standard Chartered Bank, SunFunder, SUNREF East Africa

Professional services
Africa Legal Network, Convergence, Finergreen, GreenMax Capital Advisors, MMC Africa Law, Multiconsult

Fairmont The Norfolk hotel

Visit the hotel website

A renowned landmark since opening its doors in 1904, Fairmont The Norfolk, has welcomed royalty, statesmen and stars alike over the years. This celebrated hotel is located in the heart of the Nairobi city and provides a sophisticated, calm retreat from the vibrant downtown district. Fairmont The Norfolk offers the optimal base to explore the town, with easy access to major business districts of Westlands, Gigiri, Upperhill and Downtown.

Booking link for guests

Photos from AIX: Nairobi 2018

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