Uganda and Ethiopia big winners at East African Power Industry Awards in Nairobi this week

Uganda scored a double victory at the East African Power Industry Awards with the country not only winning the Special Recognition Award for outstanding leadership in the sector, but also scooping up the Award for Excellence in Power Transmission or Distribution for the second year in a row.

Taking place during the East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC) in Nairobi this week, the East African Power Industry Awards gathered some 180 power professionals from the region at a glamorous gala dinner on Wednesday and recognised individuals, companies and projects based on the excellent work they have been doing in the power sector during 2015/2016.
Uganda’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa was honoured for his work in the utility sector with the Special Recognition Award. Umeme Limited, Uganda’s main electricity distribution company, won the Excellence in Power Transmission or DistributionAward. Uganda also had a strong presence at EAPIC in Nairobi this week with the Hon Eng Simon D’Ujanga, the Minister of State for Energy, heading up the delegation.
“It is a privilege for Umeme to win this award for the second time in a row. It is also a privilege to be recognised for the efforts put in and efficiencies we have achieved in the Ugandan distribution sector. It is wonderful that EAPIC is coming to Uganda next year and we look forward to sharing more of the progress we have made in Uganda with our peers from the region”, Mr Sam Zimbe, Deputy Managing Director of Umeme, said on Wednesday evening after receiving the award on behalf of the utility.
Ethiopia also won two categories at the awards.
The winners of the East African Power Industry Awards 2016 are:
Special Recognition Award
WINNER:   Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, Permanent Secretary, Uganda Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, Uganda
Dr Kabagambe-Kallisa was unable to accept his award in person, but sent his son, Henry Kaliisa, to deliver his acceptance speech on his behalf. He paid special tribute to his colleagues in the Ugandan energy sector, private sector players as well as international development partners: “With my colleagues in Uganda’s energy sector, with whom I have worked with for the last 20 years as the Permanent Secretary, to design and implement policies and laws which have created a conducive environment for private sector participation and investment in Uganda’s power industry.”
Dr Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in the Government of Uganda. He has been Permanent Secretary since 1997 and has worked for the Government of Uganda for over 38 years. Dr Kabagambe-Kaliisa has played a central role in the reform of Uganda’s electricity industry focusing on industry regulation and private sector participation.
The team he led has since 2007 repackaged the development of Bujagali Hydropower project (250MW) which reached commercial operation in 2012, the development of several renewable energy generation projects, and other important public-private partnerships in power distribution, rural electrification and renewable energy development.
These efforts have resulted into Foreign Direct Investment of US$1.50 billion over the last seven years in the power sector in Uganda and stabilisation of power supply in the country.
Other finalists:
–    Ben K Chumo, Managing Director and CEO, Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited, Kenya
–    Grania Rosette Rubomboras, Programme Officer: Power Projects, Nile Basin Initiative NELSAP/ Regional Interconnection Project, Rwanda, Citizen: Uganda
–    Irene Margaret Nafuna-Muloni, Minister, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, Uganda
–    Kevin K. Kariuki, Head of Infrastructure, Industrial Promotion Services, Kenya
–    Ralph Nyakabwa-Atwoki, Technical Director, Sustnersol Uganda Limited, Uganda
Award for Excellence in Power Transmission or Distribution
WINNER:   Umeme, Uganda
Umeme Limited is Uganda’s main electricity distribution company. In 2015, Umeme’s income grew by 19% to Ushs 1.16 trillion compared to 2014, underpinned by 8% growth in sales units. The commencement of construction works for Isimba (183MW) and Karuma (600MW) hydropower projects affirms the government’s commitment to the energy sector and increasing access to electricity across Uganda.
On completion of these projects, among others, over the next 5-6 years, the country’s effective generation capacity shall be in excess of 1,600MW. Umeme plans to make significant investments to grow and ready the distribution infrastructure for the new generation capacity.
Other finalists:
–    Azuri Technologies, Kenya
–    Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia
–    Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited, Kenya
–    KETRACO, Kenya
–    TANESCO, Tanzania
Award for Outstanding Clean Power Project (under 5MW)
WINNER: Mobisol – East Africa
“We are very happy, proud and feel very overwhelmed; this was a surprise as we did not expect to win. Mobisol is growing very fast and so far we have electrified over 60,000 households in East Africa” saidKlaus Maier, Mobisol Corporate Development Manager and Helen Tiemann, Mobisol, Partnerships and Expansion Manager, after receiving the award.
Mobisol has developed an innovative product design and service offering fully adjusted to off grid customers’ needs: The mature product-service offer combines high quality solar products, innovative IT solutions and remote monitoring, microfinance via mobile banking and comprehensive customer services. Mobisol’s products are made affordable by a rent-to-own instalment scheme offering micro-finance loans over a period of 36 months in small, flexible instalments which are payable via Mobile Money.
Other finalists:
–    M-KOPA Solar, East Africa
–    Solar Africa, Kenya
–    Solar Century, Kenya
Community Development Programme of the Year Award
WINNER:  Africa Biogas Partnership Programme (ABPP)
“For most of development programs, the impact in terms of improvement of the living standards of women and the rural households is only perceived many years after the programme has been closed. With the ABPP, this impact is immediate, the moment the woman lights her biogas stove, she cooks in a clean and safe environment! Few months later, thanks to the use of bioslurry, the household significantly increase its agricultural production as well” said Jean Marc Sika, ABPP’s Renewable Energy Programme Development Manager in East Africawho along with Bert van Nieuwenhuizen, ABPP’s Chief Technical Advisor, accepted the award.
The Africa Biogas Partnership Programme (ABPP) is a partnership between the Dutch government, Hivos and SNV in support of national biogas programmes in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burkina Faso. This partnership is geared towards constructing 100,000 biogas plants that will enable half a million people to access a sustainable source of energy by 2017. Already in its second phase, the programme has established a viable market for domestic biogas through effective credit schemes and cost reduction. Successes include 60,000 biogas plants built, 300,000 people with access to renewable energy, improved living standards of175,000 people, contributes to reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
Other finalists:
– Eco-Fuel Africa Limited, Uganda
– CEFA, Tanzania
– MAA Briquettes, Kenya
– Iten Jula Kali, Kenya
– Magiro Hydroelectric, Kenya
– PAK Briquettes, Kenya
Award for Excellence in Power Generation
WINNER:  Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia
Ethiopia strives to be the hub of renewably sourced energy in the region and beyond. Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) is instrumental to this ambitious plan. EEP operates and maintains more than 12 hydropower and three wind power plants distributed in different parts of the country with installed capacity of more than 4290MW.
There are two major hydropower projects under construction, namely the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (6000MW) and GenaleDawa 3 (254MW). EEP has a portfolio management unit with a track record in managing and administrating more than seven mega generation and transmission projects at a time in the last 10 years.
Other finalists:
–    Contour Global, Rwanda
–    Eskom Uganda Limited, Uganda
–    Geothermal Development Company, Kenya
–    KenGen, Kenya
–    Songas Limited, Tanzania
Outstanding Woman in Power – Regional Award, East Africa
WINNER:  Azeb Asnake, CEO, Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia
Azeb Asnake was appointed CEO of the Ethiopian Electric Power Company after the former Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation split into two entities in 2013. Azeb commenced her carrier at the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority from junior expert to the Directorate of Engineering Directorate. She was transferred to the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation in 2006, to lead the Gibe III Hydro Power Project, which is expected to generate 1875 MW’s of electricity. Azeb is the first woman engineer who had led the project at the capacity of a Project Manager. She is well known for her management skills and has also served as a focal person of UN Habitat Water for Africa Cities Program.
Other finalists:
–    Catherine Adeya-Weya, Senior Representative East Africa, Fieldstone Africa, Kenya
–    Faith Wandera-Odongo, Deputy Director: Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya
–    Grania Rosette Rubomboras, Programme Officer: Power Projects, Nile Basin Initiative NELSAP/ Regional Interconnection Project, Rwanda, Citizen: Uganda
–    Irene Margaret Nafuna-Muloni, Minister, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, Uganda
–    Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Kenya
–    Therese Sekamana, Founder and Managing Director, LED Solutions & Green Energy Rwanda Ltd, Rwanda
–    Thozama Gangi, CEO, Eskom Uganda, Uganda
Future Energy Leader Award
WINNER:  Faith Chege, Chief Financial Officer, Barefoot Power Africa Ltd, Kenya
After accepting the award Faith said: “this award is validating both as a young professional and a young woman in the energy sector. It’s proof that the hard work and continuous strive to be a part of the solution in eradicating energy poverty has not gone unnoticed. I’m currently working on a pay-it-forward project for my upcoming 30th birthday where I will be installing 30 solar home systems for 30 households in rural Kenya. This will give 150 people access to clean energy and encourage my fellow young folk to be part of the solution.”
Faith Chege is the CFO at Barefoot Power Africa; with over five years’ experience in finance from the non-profit and for-profit private sectors. She is also a Mandela Washington Fellow 2015 and a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum and Global Entrepreneurship Delegate in 2016. From the for-profit private sector, she brings expertise in lean financial systems minimizing costs while maintaining maximum productivity, management of public private partnerships, project financing, overseeing financial audits, cash flow planning and management, keeping healthy accounts payable and accounts receivable ratios, and managing financial operations of business units in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana and Ethiopia.
Other finalists:
–    Andrew Lamosi, Managing Director, Chevron Africa Ltd, Kenya
–    Charity Wanjikyu, COO, Strauss Energy, Kenya
–    Erica Mackey, Co-Founder & COO, Offgrid, Tanzania
–    Hasnaine Mohamed Yavarhoussen, Chief Executive Officer, Groupe Filatex, Madagascar
–    Sanga Moses, CEO, Eco-Fuel Africa Limited, Uganda
–    Tina Nduta, Founder/Managing Director, Eimara Africa Resources (Parent Company), East Africa Extractives Networks, Kenya
Industry support for awards
The East African Power Industry Awards have become a popular gathering for the who’s who in the region’s energy sector. Co-Operative Bank and Rosatom were awards sponsors while the results are verified by Mazars.
Regional power gathering
The 18th edition of EAPIC is expected to gather more than 2000 visitors from more than 30 countries, including from the region’s leading power utilities, large industries, project developers and investors as well as dozens of technology and service providers who will showcase their products at the KICC in Nairobi from 21-22 September. Lucy Electric, a global secondary distribution leader in the electricity sector, is this year’s platinum sponsor, while Stanbic Bank is the gold sponsor.
The event is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK. Other flagship events in Spintelligent’s power portfolio on the continent are African Utility Week, the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC), iPAD Rwanda Energy Infrastructure Forum and iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum.