Prof Roula Inglesi-Lotz from the
Department of Economics is the founding President of the South African Association for Energy Economics (SAAEE), the 30th recognised affiliate of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), which was launched in Pretoria on 26 April 2018.
SAAEE aims to establish a national forum for energy specialists from all professions and spheres of the energy sector (academia, industry, private, and public sector), with the ultimate purpose of building intellectual capacity and thereby improving energy policy. It encourages intellectual debate over the variety of views on how to confront the current energy challenges that South Africa faces.
At her inaugural speech, Prof Inglesi-Lotz stressed that evidence-based, factual, and unbiased analysis is essential to assist in future policy decisions in South Africa. The IAEE President David Knapp, the IAEE President-elect Christophe Bonnery, and Executive Director David Williams were also present at the formal launch event to show their support and trust in the new association.
In his keynote address, Mr Barry Bredenkamp from the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) in the Department of Energy, pointed out that the country’s energy sector does not lack technical and engineering skills, but argued that “…we are not getting the economics right”. Dr Heinrich Bohlmann, also from the Department of Economics and treasurer of SAAEE, is also one of the founding members and contributors to the establishment of SAAEE.
The event closed with a panel discussion among energy experts. Dr Labson from TransAfrican Consulting Group and the University of Johannesburg, Miss Mashele from the Development Bank Southern Africa, Mr Milazi from CSIR Energy Centre, and Mr Joubert from Eskom shared their thoughts on the topic “Energy Economics: who wins and who loses from South Africa’s changing energy mix?”
From left to right: Chistophe Bonnery, IAEE President-elect; Roula Inglesi-Lotz, UP Department of Economics; David Knapp, IAEE President; Barry Bredenkamp, Sanedi; David Williams, Executive Director IAEE
From left to right: Mr Milazi from CSIR Energy Centre; Dr Labson from TransAfrican Consulting Group and the University of Johannesburg; Miss Mashele from the Development Bank Southern Africa (DBSA); Mr Joubert from Eskom; Prof Inglesi-Lotz from UP Department of Economics
From left to right: Mr Milazi from CSIR Energy Centre; Dr Labson from TransAfrican Consulting Group and the University of Johannesburg; Miss Mashele from the Development Bank Southern Africa (DBSA); Mr Joubert from Eskom; Prof Inglesi-Lotz from UP Department of Economics
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