Namibia to host int’l conference on Africa’s water, hydropower development

WINDHOEK, JAN 25 — International energy experts will gather for a conference in Namibia’s capital Windhoek to discuss water storage and hydropower development in Africa, organizers said on Thursday.
The conference, dubbed “Africa 2019 – Water Storage and Hydropower Development for Africa,” is being organized by Aqua Media International, publisher of the International Journal on Hydropower and Dams with readers in 180 countries around the world.
The three days of discussion will be preceded by training workshops and seminars, said the organizers in a statement.
The Namibian Ministries of Agriculture and of Mines and Energy, as well as Namwater and NamPower, will be participating, along with high level utility representatives from other parts of the world.
“The event will be an ideal opportunity to promote Namibian and African expertise in the field of hydropower and water resources development, and for interaction with international delegates,” the organizers added.
About 650 international delegates from about 50 countries will focus on issues of particular relevance to the African region, including technical, financial, environmental and social issues.
Alison Bartle, director of Aqua Media International, said their previous successful African regional events were hosted in Ethiopia in 2013 and Morocco in 2017 respectively.
The event is being organized and hosted in partnership with the International Commission on Large Dams, with support from the African Union, United Nations, International Energy Agency, World Bank and Africa Development Bank, among others. – XINHUA