Renewable Energy Expo to raise awareness

KEIKANTSE LESEMELA
Correspondent | Monday January 21, 2013 00:00

Under the theme 'Increasing Energy Capacity with Sustainable renewable sources,' the event will feature an impressive line-up of local and international speakers, delegates and exhibitors, who will gather to debate a new energy future for Botswana.

The expo will raise awareness and educate the public about renewable energy sources and climate change in Botswana and the world as well as create a platform for businesses, Government and NGO's to showcase renewable energy solutions and climate change initiatives and technologies.  Participants will also have an apportunity to stay abreast of developments and highlight issues affecting the energy industry and further highlight technologies, strategies and policies covering the wind, solar, biofuel, hydrocarbon, geothermal, ocean/tidal/wave, agriculture, environment, finance and hydrogen in Botswana.

The expo takes place in partnership with Africa Sustainable Energy Association, Southern Africa Alternative Energy Association as well as numerous other local and multinational organisations from the public and private sectors such as Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), Africa Renewable Energy Alliance, ADB,  World Bank, and Clean Energy Business Council . This year's event will attract more than 4,000 renewable energy power professionals and exhibiting companies around the World. During the launch of the Energy and Environment Partnership programme with Southern and East Africa (EEP-SE&A) in 2010, the Finland Ambassador to South Afric, Tina Myllyntausta said that energy consumption was on the increase worldwide, especially in developing and emerging countries.

'With the climate change being a concern, the world has to learn to reduce its reliance on traditional sources of energy, and develop the potential and access to sustainable energy sources derived from renewable energy sources, of which Africa has abundance of,' said Myllyntausata. The Finish government contributed ó8,5-million to approved projects over the next three years to the eight partnering countries that included: South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia. The EEP-SE&A partnership was initiated to provide partial financing for feasibility studies, as well as pilot and demonstration projects in the renewable energy and energy efficient sectors.