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AIX: Online 2020

Switching to digital

Africa Investment Exchange (AIX) Online

Established at RSA House in 2013, the Africa Investment Exchange (AIX) has become one of the meeting places of choice for Africa’s energy sector stakeholders. We are pleased to have got the AIX community together (virtually) since April 2020.

Read more details on AIX Online meetings below.

30 April 2020

12h50 BST Registration

13h00 to 14h00 BST Start of webinar

Africa power & renewables overview
CbI chairman, Jon Marks will kick-off our first one-hour AIX: Webinar on 30 April, focusing on:

African Energy Live Data – providing unique insights into continental electricity supply industry trends up to the end from the decade, regional capacity additions and energy mix.

Africa Heat Map – illustrating major political and energy industry developments in Africa in 2020.

African Energy Industry Survey – results and comments from online poll

Experienced AIX panellists from the public and private sector will be invited to join a live panel discussion and to share their perspectives on the impact the coronavirus is having on Africa’s power sector. Will there be even less commercial finance after the Covid-19 crisis? How will Africa emerge from the global lockdown?

14h00 BST Online matchmaking and networking opportunity
The AIX: Webinar uses Swapcard, an online event matchmaking service enabling delegates to organise 1-to-1 meetings with other participants. The platform also opens the door to industry specific chat rooms and other online meetings during these challenging times.

9 June 2020

13h00 to 14h00 GMT+1, 
C&I financing and business models

Results from the African Energy C&I Survey will be examined at the beginning of the webinar and form part of the focus for the panel-led discussion. See next page for survey.

Chair: Chanda Nxumalo, Director Harmattan Renewables and SAPVIA Board Member

  • How will C&I evolve and are the funding mechanisms in place?
  • Rental v IPPs: examples of emerging business models, contract and financial structures as well as technology options for C&I
  • Developers and EPC’s perspectives on the barriers to financing projects
  • The role of commercial banks and debt capital. What is holding back local banks from investing?
  • Accessing long-term international development and concessional finance
  • The economic fundamentals for large-scale captive power

14h30 to 15h30 GMT+1
C&I policy and regulatory approaches

Chair: Fiona Gulliford, Partner, Trinity International

Comparing the regulatory environment for large mines and medium to small sized businesses, which countries have friendly regulation, and which countries have barriers?

National utilities’ perspectives on the acceleration in captive power solutions

16h00 to 17h00 GMT+1
Customer view on C&I

Chair: Ifechukwude Uwajeh, Deputy Director,

GreenMax Capital Group

Key considerations for customers considering captive power

What will it take for battery storage to become a viable option with C&I solar?

Snapshot of C&I in Nigeria

 

23 June 2020

13h00 to 14h30

Chair: Jon Marks, Chairman, Cross-border Information

Post Covid-19 – where is the gas market heading?

  • Will export led projects still be the main route to market?
  • Will inter African regional and domestic markets with gas-fired power open new economical avenues?
  • What role can gas play to drive economic recovery in the continent?

9 July 2020

13h00 to 14h30 BST
Africa power negotiations

This panel-led discussion will provide an update on the tariff renegotiations under way in several African markets as well as discuss the impact of covid on current and future project agreements, ahead of the seventh AIX: Power & Renewables meeting on 17-20 November.

Chair: Jon Marks, Chairman, Cross-border Information

  • The role of utilities and regulators in Africa’s increasingly diverse electricity supply industry.
  • IPP tariff renegotiations and PPAs: With tariff renegotiations under way in several important markets, what might a fair and effective compromise between private and public interests look like going forwards?
  • Will tariff renegotiations dent investor confidence?
  • The impact of Covid on PPAs: Will there be any fundamental changes to the way force majeure or risk mitigation is approached in future agreements?

15 September 2020

Carbon in transition
The pace of renewables integration into Africa’s electricity supply industry and global climate change concerns are driving a reevaluation in the continent's long-term energy mix. However, there is a real need in Africa for gas to play a continued significant role as the ‘transition fuel’ and to supply power plants, industrial and other users over the coming decade (and beyond). The opening session will thus set out the case for gas in AIX’s distinctively analytical but straight speaking manner.

12h00 to 13h30 BST

Part 1: African gas trends

Chair: Jon Marks, Chairman, CbI and Head of Consultancy, African Energy

Results and analysis from the African Energy Survey which asks the AIX community to comment on upstream, gas-to-power and LNG challenges facing industries along Africa's gas value chain will kick-start the session. This will open a debate on global carbon transition, the future shape of global industries (including LNG export prospects, FLNG, gas-to-power schemes etc) and how changing trends in policy-making and investment are impacting on gas producers.

Part 2: African gas policy

Government and regulator’s perspectives on industrialisation programmes, gas masterplans and local content strategies. What do administrations want from gas schemes? In the carbon transition are they at risk of finding themselves with stranded assets?

13h30 to 14h00

Online networking
Send a message, schedule a meeting or initiate a call

14h00 to 15h30
Strategies along the gas value chain

Upstream operators, investors and power developers discuss challenges and opportunities along the gas value chain.
  • To what extent is it necessary to be present in all parts of the gas value chain to create a robust gas business in SSA?
  • What are the consequences of COVID 19 on those companies seeking to develop gas businesses in SSA?
  • To what extent are gas projects in SSA financeable?
  • What are the opportunities and constraints when developing gas projects based on African demand?
  • To what extent do you subscribe to the theory that some African utilities could go the way of fixed line telephone companies and disruptive events could cause them to radically change their business model?
  • Will the softness in global energy prices create more favourable conditions for LNG import projects in SSA?
  • Stranded assets, are upstream fields going to become uneconomic is gas and other infrastructure going to become a liability?
  • Smaller deposits and associated gas – challenges of commercialising assets for producers and investors.
  • Why haven’t virtual pipelines (CNG and LNG) made more headway in SSA. Will this change soon?
  • How might we solve the gas to power conundrum in SSA?
  • How can gas contribute to increased energy access?

Satellite sessions on 16 September

We plan to run two gas focused roundtables in partnership with speakers and partners. Confirmed roundtables:
  • 11h00 BST - Which countries show the most promise for the sector?
    Hosted by Rodney J. MacAlister, CEO, Monetizing Gas Africa
  • 12h00 BST - How COVID-19 is changing the opportunities for oil and gas-led growth
    Hosted by Glada Lahn, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House

 

22 September 2020

11h00 - 11h30

Ryan Anderson, Head of Section Renewable Energy Advisory Services at Multiconsult will be sharing his insights on a recent report: "What role can Africa’s reservoir hydropower play in enabling variable renewables: The case of 900 MW of solar in Zambia.” at the first AIX Power & Renewables meeting on 22 September.

12h00 to 13h30 BST

Grid strategies

Examining key institutional themes for grid operations.

  • Governance model: unbundling vs vertical integration
  • Tariff structure: cost reflectiveness and funding models
  • Privatisation: lessons learned from various experiences across the continent
  • Grid upgrades: perspectives from the private sector, C&I customers and transmission operators
  • Balancing the grid: how best to respond to new challenges and opportunities in maintaining grid stability
13h30  Online networking
Send a message, schedule a meeting or initiate a call

14h00 to 15h30 BST

Storage strategies

The session will focus on issues around storage as they impact on African electricity supply and other industries.
  • Examining the solar-plus-storage model and opportunities for investment
  • Recent tenders and best practices from around the world and African case studies
  • Understanding the technologies, costs and applications for storage
  • Who is financing storage? What are their conditions, restrictions and main concerns?

Satellite sessions

We plan to run several grid and storage focused roundtables in partnership with speakers and sponsors, including:

  • Best practices in renewable energy sources integration
  • What are the different peaking options?
  • Energy management and peak shaving – including time- shift of renewables
  • Synergies between storage, conventional power and emergency power solutions

13 October 2020

12h00 to 13h30
West and Central Africa
  • Countries in focus will include Nigeria, the Mauritania/Senegal play, Equatorial Guinea as a ‘gas hub’ and Ghana’s grid realignments.
  • We will ask are gas pipelines really the answer to regional supply shortfalls?
  • We will also ask how WAPP and other regional initiatives are changing regional strategic thinking about electricity supply?
Coastal trading 
Asking whether new models of FSRU and LNG regas facilities can supply a new generation of GTP businesses long the West African coast and in other regions.

13h30 to 14h00
Online networking
Send a message, schedule a meeting or initiate a call

14h00 to 15h30
Transitional projects – pointing the way ahead

  • LNG and pipelines: what does the current disruption mean for projects. Which pre FID projects will continue, be deferred, cancelled or restructured?
  • FSRUs and other import schemes: Analysis of a number of key projects that were setting trends and give pointers to further market developments.
  • Liquid fuel applications: still room to fit LPG and HFO in the new energy landscape?

15h30 to 16h30
Satellite sessions
Access to fringe events (country focuses, workshops, interviews, speaker Q&As, and roundtables) co-hosted by our speakers and partners

27 October 2020

11h00 GMT – 26 October

Tanzania Roundtable

Mark Gammons, Head of Business Development for Tanzania at Globeleq is hosting a pre-conference roundtable meeting focusing on Tanzania’s power industry.

  • The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is committed to driving Tanzania to a higher level of development and industrialisation, fuelled by growth in the power sector.
  • The Government-championed 2,100 MW Nyerere Hydropower Project is well underway and many are interested to see how it progresses.
  • The TANESCO renewables tenders, including the 2x100MW Large Wind Power projects and the 3x50MW Large Solar Power projects are poised to proceed with very low tariffs.
  • With the election happening on 28 October those connected to the power sector are watching carefully to see what direction Tanzania will go in the next six months to set the path for the next five years.

12h00 to 13h30 GMT

East African perspective

Ajay Ubhi, Research analyst at African Energy will start with East Africa insights from African Energy Live Data.
Interactive discussion focusing on the region’s strategic direction
  • Impact of Covid-19
  • Does East Africa have enough power?
  • What future for thermal generation?
  • Update for IPPs
  • Outlook for competitive procurements
13h30  Online networking
Send a message, schedule a meeting or initiate a call

14h00 to 15h30 GMT

Strategies for regional integration

How realistic are plans for East African energy industries to become more integrated via electricity interconnections, pipelines and shared policy?

  • View across the East African Community region
  • Analysis of key projects to assess progress, including Eastern Africa Power Pool prospects
  • Questions of trust and national interest - thorny issues
  • What is required to create a bankable regional market
  • The impact of international support for interconnections

Satellite sessions

Access to fringe events (country focuses, workshops, interviews, speaker Q&As, and roundtables) co-hosted by our speakers and partners. Topics may include:

  • Outlook for Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
  • C&I and geothermal update

10 November 2020

12h00 to 13h30
Investment decisions in East and Southern Africa

Rovuma Basin schemes have reached final investment decisions and financial close, and South Africa looking to implement some of its ambitious GTP schemes, the focus on this region should be intense this year.

13h30
Online networking

Send a message, schedule a meeting or initiate a call

14h00 to 15h30
Gas-to-power investment strategies

Focus on different elements of the GTP value chain: IPPs and embedded GTP. Potential synergies for upstream operators, power developers and finance.

  • Can power developers be expected to co-invest in floating regasification and other non-traditional supply solutions.
  • Are current corporate structures (‘upstream operator’, ‘power developer’ etc) appropriate for the coming market?
  • What roles do liquid fuels have to play?

15h30 to 16h30
Satellite sessions
Access to fringe events (country focuses, workshops, interviews, speaker Q&As, and roundtables) co-hosted by our speakers and partners

17 November 2020

Presentation: "Long term reliability as a key solar plant investment strategy" given by Titus Koech, Technical Services – MEA at JinkoSolar

12h00 to 13h30 GMT

Solar investment strategies

Recent insights on utility-scale solar from African Energy will kick-start the session.
  • Latest solar trends including floating PV
  • Future relationship between solar and public utilities
  • What is the true cost of solar?
  • Factors impacting on solar pricing
  • The role of development finance in the solar market

13h30 Online networking

Satellite sessions

Access to fringe events (country focuses, workshops, interviews, speaker Q&As, and roundtables) co-hosted by our speakers and partners.

8 December 2020

12h00 to 14h30
Solutions to fit all sizes

This afternoon session builds on AIX: Gas 2019’s very successful dive into gas trucking, CNG and other innovative solutions for using gas in multiple markets. The session will discuss issues including securing investment in pipelines, storage and processing infrastructure, virtual pipelines and terrestrial LNG, CNG and other gas transport prospects.

  • Opportunities and challenges along the small-scale LNG value chain
  • Opportunities and challenges facing investors in compressed natural gas (CNG)
  • Prospects for small-scale gas generation, gas processing and the LPG market
  • Who are the main financing players in this space and what are their conditions and restrictions

14h30
Online networking – Send a message, schedule a meeting or initiate a call

15 December 2020

Optimising investment and avoiding costly mistakes in small hydro: the case of 14 small hydro IPPs in Uganda

Both, technical and environmental issues will be presented in this session, which will also provide a unique opportunity to review a large renewable energy portfolio outside of South Africa.

Satellite sessions

Access to fringe events (country focuses, workshops, interviews, speaker Q&As, and roundtables) co-hosted by our speakers and partners. Topics may include:

Community engagement; navigating land rights; communicating with governments; environmental standards; finding local partners; and accessing financing from DFIs, commercial banks, export credit agencies, China and India.

Purchase access to past AIX: Webinars or contact Lauren Andrews to pay by bank transfer.

INTERACTIVE PANELS – Ask questions and share ideas with the AIX community during interactive panels with live chat and polling.

CHATHAM HOUSE RULE – The meeting will continue to be held under the Chatham House Rule to allow for more open, but still useable, discussion.

SATELLITE SESSIONS – Take advantage of roundtable discussions, interviews, exhibition and social events.

CHAT & NETWORK – Our digital platform makes it easy for the AIX community to chat to one another, catch up with old friends with 1-to-1 video calls and connect with the contacts you want to meet.

UNIQUE CONTENT – Access material including survey results, event summaries and African Energy Live Data analysis.

LIVE OR ON-DEMAND – Watch everything live or pick the time that suits you. Every panel session is recorded so you can catch up later.