South Africa is not alone in dealing with crippling power outages and load shedding. Countries in the north, such as Egypt, are also dealing with blackouts through the summer, which affects their GDP and ability to trade internationally. Productivity and output for intensive energy using companies will start to decline without swift intervention, notably in the form of technologically advanced solar/hybrid solutions.
Solar solution providers are optimistic that their input as well as their products will help ease the summer energy struggles faced by intensive energy users. “Now that the price of solar electricity is already cheaper than coal, the solar-diesel hybrid makes commercial sense for both on- and off-grid users,” emphasizes Mr. Dick Berlijn, CEO of SubSolar based in South Africa. At the unique knowledge platform, Solar Diesel Africa in Johannesburg March 3-5, speakers such as Daniel Davies of SolarCentury, Andile Sangqu of Impala Platinum, and Bhavtik Vallabhjee of Barclays Investment Bank, will be joined by many other enthusiastic sponsors and participants eager to discuss cost saving solar solutions to Africa’s energy dilemmas.
Sanjay Soni, Director of Black Lite Solar offers,“Black Lite Solar is proud to partner with Solarplaza at the Solar Diesel Conference in March 2015. The panelists, speakers and event organisers will afford participants the opportunity to engage on key industry and economic issues, whilst assessing solar as an alternative to diesel.” Black Lite, Solarplaza and many other sponsors to the event look forward to welcoming over 20 intensive energy using companies to the knowledge platform, including Kalagadi Manganese, Premier African Minerals, and Anglogold Ashanti, to name a few. Edwin Koot, CEO of Solarplaza is notably exuberant, expressing that, “Solar Diesel Africa will offer opportunities for solar industry experts and intensive energy users to communicate about ways for solar solution providers and financiers to help find solutions to surviving excess load shedding and rolling blackouts.” Equivalently, Mr. Berlijn also maintains, “Solar is for costs and sustainability, diesel is to augment and provide baseload. There has never been a better time for this combination on this market”.
About Solar Diesel Africa
The program includes a high-level, exclusive networking dinner March 3 for sponsors and intensive energy using company representatives, though the evening of March 4 also offers a networking dinner for all attending participants. During the day on March 4, Solarplaza has planned a full program of sessions, including panels, one on one meetings, and group discussions that will allow for even more networking opportunities. The final day of the conference on March 5, includes a trip to the Thabazimbi Mine Project by Cronimet, followed by a business lunch before traveling back to Johannesburg. Solar experts, solar solution developers, financiers and intensive energy users alike will greatly benefit from attending Solar Diesel Africa, the first known event of its kind.
Press Contact
Alexandra Mebane
Phone: +31 102809198
Email: alexandra@solarplaza.com
Website: www.solarplaza.com
