“Tackling Africa’s developmental challenges is key in addressing the Continent’s Bioenergy issue”NEPAD Agency CEO

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Head of NEPAD Energy Programme, Professor Mosad Elmissiry

Johannesburg, South Africa: August 1, 2012–Leading experts and investors in Bioenergy, as well as public and private sector representatives have been meeting in Johannesburg to explore how the Bioenergy industry can use more of Africa’s own national resources to deliver improved energy and food security.

The two-day New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) Bioenergy Symposium, which began on Monday, has been discussing various ways of tapping into the Continents resources in order to produce clean energy fuels.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Head of NEPAD Energy Programme, Professor Mosad Elmissiry said, “NEPAD’s objective is to drive Bioenergy programmatic activities and see real results. This is by virtue of NEPAD being a result-oriented organisation.

One of the key objectives of the Symposium is to review the conditions, criteria and operation model to set up the “Incubator Fund”.

“Africa needs a solution that encourages enterprise and rewards work, this needs both public and private investment harnessed and distributed through a trusted channel, and that is the ideal role for the Bio-Enterprise Incubator Fund” said Gavin Maxwell, Project Team leader for BizClim, a European Union Project which provides technical assistance for improving the business climate in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean.

NEPAD Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki urged participants to the symposium to think radically on how to forge strong partnerships which can tackle developmental challenges in Africa. Dr Mayaki highlighted NEPAD’S role in ensuring that the decisions that are taken on Energy are implemented.

 “It is an incredibly innovative and bold step from NEPAD to pioneer this dialogue, “said Dr Mayaki. 

Their approach is commendable as it involves a wide variety of delegates from the Bioenergy community. Unlike other development approaches, this approach is a “bottom-up” approach which is mostly guaranteed to achieve a higher level of success.” said Ms. Nomfundo Mthembu, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA),

Presentations on day one included briefings from African and international bioenergy industry experts and investors and project presentations by projects in Southern Africa and Europe. Day two saw Bioenergy and project developers from Southern Africa presenting their business cases or “pitching” for investment or Partners Cooperation. The Professional and Investment panel will then evaluate how the projects can best be assisted. Presentations can be accessed by clicking here>>>

An Outcomes document will be produced from the recommendations made during the Symposium. The outcomes document will be available on www.nepad.org