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AIX: Power & Renewables 2018

14-15 November 2018

Africa Investment Exchange: Power and Renewables

Enabling power project development in Africa

14-15 November 2018, RSA House, London

Dates for next AIX: Power and Renewables at RSA House – 13 to 14 November 2019

Over the last five years AIX: Power & Renewables has become one of the meeting places of choice for Africa’s power sector stakeholders, including leading private and public sector investors, African officials and project developers.

Co-produced by consultants African Energy and held under the Chatham House Rule, proceedings are structured around panel-led discussions with the participating audience, with the main meeting limited to around 180 to preserve the networking environment.

The 2018 meeting was sponsored by Actis, AfIDA, DEG, Denham Capital, DLA Piper, ENGIE Africa, FMO, InfraCo Africa, Joule Africa, Lekela and Themis Energy.

It featured two main conference streams, additional break-out sessions and an evening reception and has been expanded to include additional side events:

• The third annual Off-grid Investment Exchange.
• AIX: Gas 2018 Update.
• AfricaHardball – a roundtable focused on political risks and governance issues that impact on projects and investment decisions.
• Launch of African Energy Data Book

Download the final agenda featuring more than 70 confirmed panellists

More than 70 panellists participated – including representatives from government departments, utilities and regulators across Africa. See below for details

Keep me updated on AIX: Power & Renewables and other AIX meetings.

Photos from AIX: Power & Renewables 2018

#aixpr18
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DAY 1 – AIX Power & Renewables 2018: Opening session

08h30 to 09h00 Registration & coffee – The Benjamin Franklin Room

09h00 to 10h45 – The Great Room

Africa power and renewables strategy

The meeting kicks off with a strategic overview and critical analysis of continental electricity supply industry trends, project pipelines and demand growth projections.

In a moderated debate – held, like the rest of the conference under the Chatham House Rule to ensure the most frank conversation possible – leading figures from the industry, finance and from among policy-makers will discuss questions including:

  • What mechanisms should be developed/built upon to integrate private sector thinking more effectively into public policy?
  • How can governments integrate off-grid solutions into national planning? Indeed, should they?
  • A lot of focus is being given to ‘transformative’ and ‘disruptive’ trends that could transform poorly performing energy economies into dynamic, consumer-driven success stories. Is this really the narrative through which to understand current trends on the continent?

10h45 Coffee

Stream 1 – Finance and development

11h15 to 12h45 – The Great Room

Part one - Early stage development

Early AIX: Power and Renewables meetings honed in on the lack of early stage support as a major weakness for power developers; subsequent meetings registered ever more initiatives. So where are we now?

Part Two - What stakeholders want

What do administrations and regulators want from a project? How does this align with what developers and financiers need to make projects work?

12h45 Lunch

13h45 to 15h15 – The Great Room

FIT, negotiated deals and renewable energy auctions

How attractive are auction mechanisms compared with FIT and negotiated deals?. How should the best approach be determined for each country?

Industry and financial leaders and policy-makers share their experiences.

• Transparency in the procurement process.
• Fair market pricing and affordability.
• Governments willingness to honor contracts.

15h15 Coffee

15h45 to 17h00 – The Tavern Room

Africa Disruptors

Investment in technologies and other ‘disruptors’ that are changing the African energy landscape. This session will ask three key questions:

1) how are disruptive technologies impacting along the electricity value chain? - including the real, potential and hypothetical impact of storage, hybrid mobile phone towers, solar pumps for agriculture, off-grid solar for industry, and PAYG systems.

2) is the growth in embedded power and other independent solutions signalling a revolution driving industrial growth?

3) can mining and other industries develop suffcient generation and mini-grids to create a sustainable regional development? Do solar-diesel hybrid plants have long-term potential. How should best practices (including negotiating PPAs) be consolidated?

17h00 to 20h00 Evening reception in the Benjamin Franklin room

Stream 2 – Transmission & distribution

11h15 to 12h45 – The Tavern Room

Grid-based and distributed strategies to increase access

A panel discussing strategies to strengthen the grid and private sector solutions to help overcome transmission shortfalls – including analysis of:

  • major plans for national grids;
  • IPT (independent power transmission) model – it has worked for Latin America, why not Africa? Panellists will discuss the World Bank’s recommended 10 steps needed to realise the potential of IPTs in Africa.
  • cross-border interconnections – logical solutions dogged by mistrust?
  • the need for tariffs (or equivalent cash-flow) that reflect the cost of upgrading and building new T&D infrastructure.

How should existing grid networks, grid extension, grid edge and fully off-grid coexist?

12h45 Lunch

13h45 to 15h15 – The Tavern Room

Distribution models

A handful of distribution companies like Umeme in Uganda have shown how discos can draw in international and local finance to provide sustainable services.

  • Nigeria’s disco privatisation excited investors but has proved a huge challenge. What should be done to make discos a more attractive asset.
  • Making national discos into profitable services companies.
  • Mini-grid development, their regulation and pricing.
  • Financing the ‘last mile’ and reducing network losses.

15h15 Coffee

DAY 1 – Special Sessions at AIX Power and Renewables 2018

13h45 to 15h15 – The Tavern Room

Geothermal Development in East Africa

Break-out session to examine geothermal models.

  • Focus on progress in key projects in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.
  • The experience of utilities in the early stages of developing geothermal prospects.
  • Investor and power developer perspective on opportunities, obstacles and risks.

15h15 Coffee

15h45 to 17h00 – The Great Room

Engaging local capital

A tried and tested formula for building sustainable industries in other emerging markets, this session is dedicated to building up domestic markets to encourage 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.

 

AIX Gas 2018 Update

08h30 to 09h00 Registration & coffee – Durham Street Auditorium at RSA House

09h00 to 10h45
Africa Gas Outlook

Highlighting key trends in Africa’s gas market with expert analysis of upstream projects in Mauritania, Mozambique and Nigeria.

  • Overview of global LNG market, LNG pricing and impact on LNG buyers.
  • LNG (and FLNG) export prospects.
  • Local content strategies and development of domestic and inter-African gas trade.
  • Oil majors: re-examining their position in Africa’s natural gas market.
  • Upstream perspective on financing mid-size projects.

10h45 Coffee

 

11h15 to 12h45

Africa gas-to-power

The session will focus on the different segments of the gas-to-power (GTP) value chain including African Energy Live Data analysis of GTP schemes.

  • Who is investing in gas IPPs?
  • What can be done to bring upstream players and power developers together?
  • PPAs and competitive tariffs
  • Security of supply: sourcing gas or LNG for power generation from domestic resources and imports
  • Is floating regasification a suitable solution for power generation?

12h45 Networking lunch in the Vaults shared with AIX Power & Renewables

Evening reception at AIX Power and Renewables

17h00 to 20h00

Evening reception at RSA House

Hosted by African Energy Live Data.

Including the launch of the African Energy Data Book 2018

#aix_evening_reception
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DAY 2 – AIX Power & Renewables 2018

09h00 to 10h30 – The Great Room

West and Central Africa Focus

Power generation trends as highlighted by African Energy Live Data will provide a basis for discussion of the region, the projects and countries attracting international and local investment – and those facing challenges. Including:

  • the prospects for Nigeria’s never-ending rehabilitation / privatisation, ahead and after elections;
  • the image and reality of Ghana’s reputation as an ‘investor darling’;
  • gas-fired growth in Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Senegal;
  • hot spots and lack of access across the region.

10h30 Coffee

09h00 to 10h30 – The Tavern Room

Southern Africa Focus

Opportunities and challenges across the region, with trends highlighted by African Energy Live Data. Issues to be tackled will include:

  • SAPP and cross-border trading, within bigger economies but also outliers like DR Congo;
  • Zimbabwe after Mugabe – more of the same or a genuine breakthrough in governance and investment?
  • South Africa – reversing Zuma’s legacy, we hope;
  • Angola and Mozambique: politics and investment in the region’s gas giants;
  • emerging off-grid markets and models.

10h30 Coffee

11h00 to 12h30 – The Tavern Room

North Africa Focus

Renewables and gas-fired projects have been promoted in very different ways across the region (as shown in African Energy Live Data analysis). This session will discuss the financial, industrial and political trends driving investment – and in some cases blocking it. Issues will include:

  • climate finance and an RE-focused strategy. What Morocco’s experience can teach the region;
  • a gas giant and renewables ambitions in Egypt;
  • Algeria’s promise of a more proactive Sonatrach and RE expansion;
  • multilateral, bilateral and commercial financing options;
  • seven years after the Arab Spring, mixed fortunes for Tunisia and Libya.

12h30 Lunch

11h00 to 12h30 – The Great Room

East Africa Focus

Generation, transmission and distribution trends and challenges across the region, highlighted by African Energy Live Data and discussion involving a range of stakeholders. Including:

  • the regional energy balance – under- or over- supply. The contrasting (and complementary) profiles of Kenya and Ethiopia;
  • the Rift Valley’s experience developing its geothermal prospects;
  • what next for off-grid PAYG systems in a region that has been the off-grid leader?
  • prospects for cross-border trading and wider co-operation;
  • political risk, including Tanzania’s nationalist policy and the impact of corruption on project development

12h30 Lunch

Off-grid Investment Exchange 2018

13h30 to 14h15

The AIX Rapporteur will report back on Day 1 (not least the Africa Disruptors session) and ask: what have we learnt about off-grid technologies and what questions should we be asking?

14h15 to 15h15

Mobilising private finance – from conventional and innovative sources

Overview of investment trends in pay-as-you-go, commercial and industrial, rural and urban, mini-grid and other nascent energy access markets.

Part 1 - Raising off-grid equity

  • Scaling-up off-grid: a private equity perspective
  • Attracting private finance and developing local partnerships. Are new commercial models emerging
    as quickly as we are told?
  • What new sources of funding, including institutional investment, are available?
  • Strategies for catalyzing domestic capital.
  • Impact investors and charitable enterprises – critical so far, but a transitional phase?
  • The future role of mobile operators and large energy corporations in off-grid solar power.

15h15 Coffee

 

15h30 to 16h30

Part 2 - Accessing off-grid debt

  • The role of concessionary finance
  • Creating an environment for commercial banks to participate?
  • Operating with local banks and other institutions.
  • Consumer finance solutions: syndication, securitisation, asset-backed financing solutions and other innovative financial instruments.
  • Mitigating currency and liquidity risks

Organisations participating at the meeting include:

Utilities, regulators and officials

Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Electricity Control Board Namibia, Electricity Regulatory Authority Uganda, Energy Commission Ghana, Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority Tanzania (EWURA), Geothermal Resources Department, GRIDCo (Ghana), Ministry of Energy Kenya, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda, KenGen, Masen (Morocco), Millennium Development Authority Ghana (MiDA), Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Nigeria, National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), New Renewable Energy Authority Egypt (NREA), Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC), UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority (ZURA)

Power developers
ABO Wind, Akuo Energy, Alcazar Energy, Aldwych International, BioTherm Energy, Black Rhino, BWSC, Corbetti Geothermal, CP-EM Uganda, EGIS Projects, Empower New Energy, ENGIE, ENI, GE, GET FiT Zambia, Globeleq, H&MV Engineering, Joule Africa, Lekela, Pan Africa Solar, Proton Energy, Renewable Energy Partner, Themis Energy, Wartsila

Off-Grid

AECF Africa, CrossBoundary Energy, Electro Power Systems (EPS), Energy 4 Impact, GOGLA, Lendahand Ethex - Energise Africa, M-Kopa, SunFunder, Support Green Communities, Tesla, Winch Energy

Gas sector

BP, Gas Strategies, Ophir Energy, PetroChina International, Sasol, Seven Energy, Shell, SLR Consulting, Sound Energy, Total Global LNG, Victoria Oil & Gas, Vitol, Wentworth Resources,

Development finance

African Development Bank, Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, DEG, EBRD, FinnFund, FMO, GuarantCo, International Finance Corporation (IFC),  KfW, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), Norfund, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), PIDG, Power Africa, Stoa Infra & Energy, Swedfund, UK Export Finance

Finance and investment
Actis, AIIM, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Africa GreenCo, ARCH Emerging Markets Partners, Blue Orchard Impact Investment Managers, CDC Group, Choiseul Africa Capital, Denham Capital, Fieldstone Africa, Green Investment Group, Helios Investment Partners, InfraCo Africa, InfraCredit, Inspired Evolution, Investec, Lion's Head Capital, Nedbank, Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers, Rand Merchnat Bank, Standard Bank, SunFunder

Professional services
Aelex, Alesco Risk Management Services, Alliant Emerging Markets, Baker McKenzie, Chatham House, DLA Piper, DMD Consulting, DNV, Economic, Consulting Associates, EMFin Advisory, ERM, GreenMax Capital Advisors, Herbert Smith Freehills, Multiconsult, Pinsent Masons, Ricardo Energy & Environment, Spie, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Webber Wentzel

Royal Society of Arts (RSA House)
8 John Adam Street
London, WC2N 6EZ

The Venue
Conveniently located in central London within easy walking distance of Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, and the South Bank, RSA House was designed by Robert Adam in the early 1770s, and is the historic home of the Royal Society of Arts. A famous centre for Enlightenment thinking, the building has been the intellectual and social home of some of the greatest thinkers and social activists of the past 200 years. Today it is also recognised as one of the most exclusive and sought after locations for executive meetings in London.

London – access to international funds
The world’s leading global financial centre, home to a large number of internationally significant banks, businesses, and stock exchanges, and barometer for international investor appetite in Africa’s growth industries.

London is an ideal destination which provides African industries access to a large international audience as well as the opportunity to capitalise on the city’s financial expertise.