NEPAD to host bioenergy investment confab in South Africa

Bioenergy investment confab – The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency is to host the Bioenergy Investment Symposium for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 30-31 July in Sandton, Johannesburg.

A NEPAD statement obtained by PANA here Sunday said the aim of the symposium is to establish a world-class bioenergy investment incubator for Southern Africa.

“In the context of world economic crisis and increasing global demand for renewable energy sources, the successful development of a thriving biomass and bioenergy industry in Southern Africa would at once be a catalyst for economic recovery for the region and serve to establish the region as a major global force in the supply of biomass and bioenergy,“ NEPAD Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, was quoted as saying in the statement.

The symposium will bring together some of the leading developers and investors from the bioenergy community to brainstorm and to come up with concrete steps to drive the development of sustainable bioenergy industry in the Southern Africa region.

Head of the NEPAD Agency’s Energy Programmes, Prof. Mosad Elmissiry, is expected to provide a situation analysis of the bioenergy in Africa and NEPAD’s strategy for its sustainable development for both food and energy security.

Promoters of bioenergy projects in the region will also be given an opportunity to present their business case or pitch for investment or partner cooperation.

The symposium is sponsored by the ACP Business Climate Facility (BizClim), which provides technical assistance for improving the business climate in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean (ACP).

Source Pana