Energy engineers in East Africa on Tuesday launched an association to ensure highest standards of professionalism and efficiency in energy management within the region.
The Association of Energy Professionals Eastern Africa (AEPEA) is the regional chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). AEE is the world’s leading professional body of certified energy professionals with over 17,000 members across the globe.
The regional body was launched during a workshop on the National Energy Policy sponsored by Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) at Strathmore University in Nairobi.
The AEPEA Chapter President, who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Academic Affairs at Strathmore University and the Director of the Strathmore Energy Research Centre, Prof. Izael Da Silva, said the association will promote scientific, educational and business interests of those engaged in the industry.
“We now have an association that will advance by lawful means the common purposes of its members, and promote activities designed to enable the industry to be conducted with the greatest economy and efficiency,” said Prof Da Silva.
AEPEA Vice President Eng. Simon Ngure, the Director of Regulation and Corporate Affairs at KenGen, said the Association gives energy professionals a platform to communicate effectively with the public in creating awareness of the importance of managing energy.
“Energy plays a key role in economic development and as professionals we will use the Association to co-operate with other stakeholders and promote dissemination of scientific and educational information to those engaged in the energy industry,” said Eng Ngure.
His sentiments were echoed by Energy Principal Secretary Eng. Dr Joseph Njoroge, who said that energy is a critical catalyst in a country’s development.
“Kenya is one of the first countries to develop an energy strategy. Since 2007, over 300 energy audits have been undertaken in the country. We are also proud that Kenya has the second highest number of energy managers in Africa, after South Africa”, said Eng. Njoroge.
The Association will also promote training and capacity development of the professionals interested in careers in energy management.
German Deputy Ambassador to Kenya Mr Michael Derus said Germany was proud of AEPEA’s achievements.
AEE was founded in 1977, with its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia in the wake of the energy crisis of 1974 which saw the price of petroleum skyrocketing and precipitating a global energy crisis.
The AEPEA was granted chapter status by the AEE on 30th September 2014 and duly registered as an Association in Kenya in December 2014.
The Association currently has over 100 members drawn from the public sector, Private sector, Academia and the Development Sector.
Part of its mandate is to spearhead research in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy management and facilitate exchange programs with international bodies involved in energy management.
The AEPEA is also custodian of administering AEE training and Certification Programs in the Eastern Africa region and has already begun providing training locally for professionals to become Certified Energy Managers (CEM).
The CEM is the most widely recognized certification of competence by professionals in energy management. Kenya has the second highest number of certified energy managers in Africa after South Africa.
KenGen
