BY MICHAEL EBOH

In line with efforts to ensuring an effective and sustainable power supply in Nigeria, Access Bank Plc has entered into a strategic partnership with the Commonwealth Business Council on the hosting of the 2011 power summit taking place in London.

The conference, tagged “Ministerial Energy Conference” is expected to provide a platform for interface between Governments and the private sector on issues relating to power generation, supply and related business and investment.

The global summit is expected to attract participation from Ministers of Power and Energy of Commonwealth nations and beyond with delegates from across the world bringing regional and international dimensions to the summit.

According to a statement from Access Bank, it is expected that insight gained from the summit will add significant value to the Nigerian Power Roadmap through meaningful interaction and engagement between the country and other countries of the world.

The statement noted that speakers at the summit include Dr. Mohan Kaul, Director-General, Commonwealth Business Council ; Dr. Pascal Dozie, Chairman, Commonwealth Business Council; Prof. Ian Fells, Special Adviser on Energy, Commonwealth Business Council; Rupert Soames, CEO, Aggreko Plc; Richard Lane, Partner, CMS Cameron Mckanna LLP and Chairman, UKTI Private sectory Advisory Group on Power; Aigboje Aig_Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc; G.Vankatesh Babu, Managing Director, Lanco Infratech Ltd ( India) and Arvind Gupta, CEO, OPG Power Ventures Plc ( India).

It further noted that government and Regulators, Power Technology Companies, Power Solution Providers, Power Infrastructure Providers and Power Project Financier and Investors from different parts of the world are also expected at the international summit.

It said, “Sustainable power supply is on the agenda of all countries, particularly Africa where power shortages are the single biggest restraint on economic development. In realisation of this, the Nigerian government has launched Nigeria Power Roadmap to boost power generation, supply and pricing to accelerate its ongoing economic rejuvenation initiatives.

“As an agent of economic development, Access Bank’s sponsorship of the event is aimed at facilitating collaboration among the critical stakeholders across the globe. It will be recalled that Access Bank recently partnered the CWC Group, an international non_governmental organisation renowned for creating opportunities and developing knowledge on hosting of the just concluded Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja.”