Expo offers Chinese briefing sessions

Led by Wang Zhixuan, secretary general of the China Electricity Council (CEC), a high-level Chinese trade delegation will participate in the business sessions.

"The CEC will lead a group of top Chinese power companies, specialising in thermal, hydro and renewable wind and solar energy systems and highly efficient and economical fourth generation nuclear power technologies. Other manufacturers provide systems for environment protection, power communication, automation and energy conservation," explains John Thomson, MD of Exhibition Management Services, organisers of Energex Africa.

Demand for African coal

Opportunities in coal powered generation will be the focus of the first half-day session on 7 June. mjunction Services reports that China's coal purchases rose 12% to 504 000 tons in April from March this year. China aims to diversify its coal suppliers after disruptions to output from Australia and Indonesia in April. Chinese investors are shifting focus to higher-risk destinations including Africa, says Paul Murphy, head of Asia-Pacific Mining and Metals at Ernst & Young.

Opportunities for coal power will be the focus of the second half-day session on 7 June. This will include:

• An overview of China's power industry by Zhixuan. CEC is a consolidated organisation of all China's power enterprises and institutions, with over 1440 members.
  
• A presentation by China Guodian Corporation, one of the five biggest power generators in China. Its power resources include coal, water, wind and biomass generation. Coal-fired capacity comprises 84% of total generation. The company is highly progressive in its renewable energy development. It's the largest wind power operator in Asia and the fifth largest in the world.
  
• A discussion on how to guarantee the stability of large power grids presented by the NARI Group. NARI is a subsidiary of the State Grid Corporation of China, which is the largest power transmission company in China. The Group has nine research institutes covering power system stability control, relay protection, high voltage technology, metering and testing technology, clean energy generation, power distribution and consumption management, information technology and communication.

Going Green with sustainable energy technology

Taking place on 8 June, this session will include presentations by Chinese companies and an update on industry developments in Africa, by Irvan Damon, the ambassador of the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa. The session will also include an update on the $20-billion, 5000 megawatt (MW) solar park development in the Northern Cape. Fluor South Africa is developing a conceptual master plan for the project following the completion of a pre-feasibility study in 2010.

Sponsored by the City of Joburg, the event has been endorsed by key energy role-players including the Department of Energy, City Power, Eskom, the Rural Energy Foundation, the Southern African Alternative Energy Association, as well as the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa.

For more information on the sessions, contact Catherine at CVLC on +27 (0) 11 789 7327 or email az.oc.clvc@enirehtac. The website is www.exhibitionsafrica.com.