DARNTALK: What’s holding Africa back?

Dear Visitor,
We proudly invite you to our next #DARNTALK! This session features two excellent speakers who will discuss the challenges Africa faces when it comes to renewable energy. Below you will find the description of the talk as well as the speakers’ biographies.
When: 27th of November 2019, 17:15 – 18:30
Where: Carnegie Lecture Theatre, University of Dundee
Description
Africa presents an exciting prospect for investment in renewable energy. Economic development and democratisation in the region has resulted in increasing domestic and industrial demand for power, with the current levels of investment lagging far behind these fast-growing needs. The International Energy Agency predicts that the demand for electricity in sub-Saharan Africa will increase by 4.6% annually, and by 2030 demand will be more than double the current electricity production.
In addition to demand growth, renewable technology is driving down the cost of energy production and all 54 African Union countries now have a unified voice in promoting the Paris climate accord. All of these factors have created an environment in which renewable energy development can generate real momentum in Africa – so what’s holding the continent back?
DWF in collaboration with Winmark has produced a research report, incorporating in-depth interviews with experts in the region and a series of focus groups to get critical insights into the challenges for developers and investors across Africa.
The report examines all aspects of energy project development and the specific challenges that are holding Africa back, from site selection and planning, finance and bankability, construction and commissioning through to distribution and technology.

Andrew Symms
Andrew is a partner at DWF and heads our Construction and Infrastructure group as well as being head of the Energy and Industrials Sector.
He specialises in all aspects of construction and engineering law, both in relation to project and procurement documentation as well as contentious matters. He has a wide range of contracting experience, particularly in relation to the issues surrounding the delivery of international projects on time and to cost.
These projects have ranged from residential and commercial buildings to international sporting venues, power stations, transmission lines and process plants.
The work includes drafting and reviewing and the disputes relating to the terms and conditions of building contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties and security documentation including performance guarantees and parent company guarantees.
His clients include banks, construction companies, energy companies, airports, airlines, property developers, contractors, public authorities and sports clubs. He has lived in and worked for clients in the UK, Europe, Australia and the Far East (being additionally qualified in Hong Kong and Australia – Northern Territory and New South Wales). He experience of working in many overseas jurisdictions including those in Central and Eastern European, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Adelani Ayoola
Adelani is a trainee solicitor in the DWF corporate team and an active member of the firm’s Energy and Industrials Sector.
Before joining the corporate team, he trained with DWF’s Construction and Infrastructure team where he worked on various building projects for both private and public sector clients such as banks, developers, construction professionals and local governments.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Adelani is passionate about African development and believes that renewable energy has the potential to be one of the key drivers of economic growth on the continent over the coming decades. A writer and keen observer of the African political and economic landscape, his articles on African development have been published on online publications such as International Policy Digest and New Africa Network.