Following the recent announcement by President Ramaphosa on the splitting of Eskom and following the recent oil discovery by Total in South Africa the discussions taking place at the 8th annual DLO Africa Power Roundtable come at a critical time for South Africa’s energy sector.

The 8th Annual Africa Power Roundtable (APR) convened by DLO Energy Resources Group (Pty), on March 26th and 27th at Webber Wentzel, Sandton, Johannesburg,  will be led by Energy Minister, Jeff Radebe and  Karen Breytenbach, Head of IPP Office, who will taking about the developments in the country's IPP programme.

On one hand the country faces a new frontier as an oil and gas producing state and on the other hand its power sectors faces a looming crisis and even calls for the dismantling if the world acclaimed independent power producer programme.

Given the great uncertainties a number of investors have started looking outside of the country for opportunities African Ministers and investors will gather in Johannesburg to discuss these opportunities as well as try to find solutions to unlock the bottlenecks that are prohibitive for investment.

 “The role of state utilities is critical to the power sector as can be seen in what is happening with Eskom as such we  will also look at the role of state utilities in Africa’s energy future given the financial constraints facing most of these state owned entities,” said APR Founder and Convener, Linda Mabhena-Olagunju.

Speakers include Jeff Radebe South African Minister of Energy, Augusto Fernando, Mozambican Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, , Joran Gumbo from the Ministry of Energy and Power Development in Zimbabwe and Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources in Botswana. There will be five panels, Gas to Power, Renewable Energy, and Funding, Storage, Captive Power and Opportunities Investment panels.

The Southern African Ministerial Panel will include , Jeff Radebe  Minister of Energy South Africa, Sadique Kebonang  Minister For Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Botswana, Augusto Fernando  Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Mozambique, Joran  Gumbo  Ministry of  Energy and  Power  Development Zimbabwe and João Baptista Borges Minister of  Energy and Water Angola

The Gas to Power panelists includes Karen Breytenbach Head of IPP Office South Africa, John Smelcer Business Development Director Globeleq, Menno Bax Shell SA and Adv Keith Harvey Chief Risk Officer South Africa Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone Company SOC Ltd.

The renewable energy panel includes Lena Mangondo Head of Legal IPP Office,  Michael Steiner Senior VP Business  Development , Southern Africa, Engie,  Michael Tarney CEO, CEC Africa Investments Ltd,  Jasandara Nyker CEO Biotherm and Chris Nivison Renewable Energy Specialist, Willis Towers Watson.

The SADC utilities panel consist of Victor M. Mundende  MD ZESCO, Simso  Kahenge  Haulofu  MD NamPower and Phakamani Hadebe  Group CEO Eskom.