Who are the investors, what are the projects and where are they happening?

The agenda for PA:HO will identify the key challenges and investment opportunities associated with the hydro-power market in Africa, examining the potential for power generation, project financing issues and the relationship between the public and the private sectors. The programme will be structured as a series of questions, allowing all participants to get involved in the debate and meet the industry's key investors.

There is huge potential for hydro-power in Africa. However, realizing that potential is difficult. Implementation of large hydropower projects is fraught with financial, political, proprietorial, environmental and social difficulties. Despite this, the attraction of producing abundant power from large projects remains, even though smaller-capacity projects are easier and may offer faster prospects for economic growth. It is in the environmental arena that hydropower faces both opportunities and challenges.

Hydro’s advantages as a clean renewable energy has increased its attractiveness but only if the geographical and social impact of the project is deemed acceptable. Projects are increasingly the subject of contentious discussion, where it is argued that community displacement and destruction of flora is too high a price to pay, even for an energy source with so benign an effect on climate change. Multilateral organizations are often not prepared to face the criticism associated with large hydropower projects. But if the issues surrounding hydro-power can be addressed, it could be an appealing method of generating power.  

Email amy@energynet.co.uk for more details on how to register