3rd Business Conference - Renewables in Mozambique 2023
Ricardo Costa Pereira is a founding member and current President of the Board of the Mozambican Renewable Energy Association (AMER).
Ricardo has been working for over a decade in the renewable energy sector in Southern Africa, specifically in Mozambique where he has worked for the public sector through the National Directorate of New and Renewable Energies (Ministry of Energy), contributing to a series of regulations and legislative documents on the development of renewable energy. For the private sector through a large multinational consultancy company where he led multidisciplinary projects and managed teams in a variety of different countries. For donor funded programs, he was part of the core technical assistance team appointed by the EU and AFD to structure the first competitive tender for large scale renewable energy projects (PROLER). Presently, Ricardo is the Portfolio Manager for AECF’s program REACT-SAA in Mozambique providing end-to-end support to companies that AECF has invested in.
Master's degree in Renewable Energies from the University of Beuth, Germany and a degree in Physics from the University of Eduardo Mondlane. He began his career in the energy sector in 2000, having taken over in 2001 the Head of the Solar Energy Section. In 2003 he served as Head of Department for New and Renewable Energy. He was appointed National Director of New and Renewable Energies in 2005, a position he held for 10 years. As National Director of New and Renewable Energies, he assumed several functions in renewable energies, namely as Representative of Southern Africa on the International Board of Directors of REEEP and Representative of Mozambique in the Energy and Efficiency Partnership initiative, promoted by Finland. Dr António Saíde is a university professor with teaching experience at Eduardo Mondlane University, Higher Institute of Science and Technology of Mozambique and Technical University of Mozambique.
Olga Utchavo Madeira was born on 26 November 1983 in Maputo, where she completed her primary and secondary education in 1996 and 2001 respectively. In 2010 she obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering in Havana, Cuba, after which she joined the Mozambique Order of Engineers, where she is a full member and a member of the College of Electrical Engineering. He has a postgraduate degree in Management from the University of Liverpool and is currently studying for a master's degree in Renewable Energy Management at the Eduardo Mondlane University.
With a professional career spanning 13 years at EDM, Olga Madeira has extensive experience in the energy sector in the areas of Protection and Systems Planning, and is currently leading the development and implementation of EDM's Renewable Energy projects.
Her extensive CV in the development of the renewable energy sector includes active contribution to the preparation and drafting of strategic documents for the sector, such as the Integrated Energy Infrastructure Master Plan and EDM's 10-year Strategy, as well as the design, development and implementation of the first Renewable Energy Auction programme in Mozambique, PROLER.
Organisational and social development specialist who, over the years, has been involved in strategic and organisational development issues faced by governmental and non-governmental actors in Mozambique, particularly those involved in community change and development, advocacy and governance.
Over the last 20 years, through his work experience as a senior manager, leader and coach, he has acquired practical and conceptual skills and competences in leadership, business planning and management, strategic planning, financial and programme management, organisational development (OD) and change processes, engaging with public and private institutions, with an emphasis on business and human resource management.
Her professional career has given her an in-depth knowledge of the socio-political and economic environments of the country and the SADC region. With good leadership, facilitation and communication skills, she has proven competences in managing, leading and facilitating diverse and complex situations, which has strengthened her creativity and ability to work independently, focusing on achieving effective results.
Joaquim currently works with FDC, the Foundation for Community Development, as Director for Advocacy and Knowledge Management.
Charles Chidamba is an energy specialist with over 15 years of experience in the energy sector (clean cooking, on grid, off grid and renewables). He has been working in the Mozambican energy sector since 2007, implementing and managing projects for the public and private sector led initiatives funded by development programs with the objective to increase access and create a sustainable off grid energy market to provide clean and affordable energy solutions to the Mozambican population. Charles has a comprehensive vision of the sector from the regulatory framework, business models and investment to the direct implementation in the field, with specific experience in both the private and public sectors. Charles is currently Maputo Embassy of Sweden's Programme Officer in the Environment, Climate and Sustainable use of natural resources portfolio focusing on the energy component.
Eng. Enrico Nunziata, after completing his degree in Electronic Engineering in Italy, received the title of Master in Biomedical Engineering from Ohio State University in 1986, and began working in the hospital environment as an assistant researcher in the Department of Anesthesiology at Ohio State University Hospital. He also began a ten-year collaboration with the Cardiology Division of the same hospital.
In 1989, Mr. Nunziata began working for international aid organizations, both governmental and NGOs, and helped several governments improve their health technology management capacity and performance (up to hospital level). In 1998 he received the Certificate in Health Economics and in 2003 a Master in Health Systems Management. Mr. Nunziata founded the consulting firm BCG-Engineering in 1990 in Ohio, USA, to provide engineering services to the healthcare industry worldwide. In 2008 he opened, together with local partners, MATEMO Lda in Maputo where he lives since 1996. The company, from the beginning, operated in the health, industrial and renewable energy sector, providing systems management and maintenance services.
With the years and the increasing demand for products and services in the renewable energy sector, Eng. Nunziata and his partner, using their engineering knowledge and acquired skills, have increasingly developed this sector that currently constitutes 75% of all activities of MATEMO Lda.
Sebastian is a senior renewable energy specialist and member of Multiconsult’s Renewable Energy Advisory Services (REAS). He has more than 15 years of experience within both private and public sector, finance, as well as development finance institutions and development cooperation, globally.
During his career Sebastian has worked on renewable energy projects in both developing and industrialized economies and has a deep understanding of power markets and framework conditions. Before joining Multiconsult, he worked as Manager Project Finance for international utility-scale solar developer and IPP ib vogt evaluating and preparing investment opportunities’, including competitive auctions, and structuring projects and transactions with debt, equity and other financial instruments. He also worked for Norwegian renewable IPP Scatec and an off-grid technology provider. Through this, he gained deep insights and hands-on experience within project development, business models, project finance transactions as well as other finance and bankability related topics.
During his strategy advisory work for the Inter-American Development (IDB) he advised the bank on sustainable energies and climate change and was a key contributor to the bank’s sustainable infrastructure strategy. Commissioned by the German government and representing German GIZ, Sebastian worked on a two-year assignment to Mexico, implementing an energy policy advisory program directed to Mexican stakeholders, most notably the Federal Ministry for Energy as well as other key stakeholders in both public and private sector. One of the key achievements was the design and implementation of Mexico’s first program for the promotion of solar-water heaters.
His advisory services include both strategy development, strategy advisory to key personnel and C-suite level paired with project management and program implementation. Sebastian is convinced that private sector, financial markets and public sector need to work closely together to prepare the grounds for scaling-up renewable energies globally.
Sebastian holds a MSc in Economics from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Germany.
Miguel is the head of Business Development of GreenVenture for Africa. He is responsible for expanding the company’s pipeline of projects in the continent. His work focuses on developing business opportunities in utility scale solar, wind, and storage projects. Prior to joining Green Venture, Miguel worked extensively on private sector development and economic research in Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC.
Co-founder of SolarWorks.
Arnoud started his career at Unilever and after that was COO of carbon credit originator OneCarbon. In 2009 he started SolarWorks!. SolarWorks! became a broad solar solution provider in the off-grid market in Southern Africa with operations in Mozambique and Malawi. SolarWorks! offers both PAYGO based product as well as larger systems that electrify buildings, offices, tourist accommodations and hospitals. Arnoud studied Econometrics (MSc) at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam and has a post-graduate degree in finance.
Georgios has a Master in Mechanical Engineering in the National Technical University of Athens, a Master in Energy Strategies in the Ecole des Mines de Paris and a Specialization in Social Policies in the University of Buenos Aires. He has been working as a project manager in energy projects, renewable energies, energy efficiency and project coordination. He has considerable experience in project management and consulting in the energy sector at the international level, in several countries in Latin America, Africa and Europe. Throughout his career, he has always been interested in social and sustainable development, linked to the energy sector. Georgios is currently working for Trama Tecnoambiental (TTA) as a Senior Project Manager & Energy Consultant.
Chanel brings over 20 years’ experience working in the technology space across diverse industries including energy, banking and Human resources. Chanel now calls the power sector home working with a broad section of power sector stakeholders in emerging economies to bring enabling technologies to utilities.
As a customer driven executive, Chanel is dedicated to delivering solutions for customer's hardest revenue protection problems.
Chanel is the most senior SparkMeter executive on the continent and as such he is responsible for leading SparkMeter's activities across Africa and the rest of the emerging markets.
Paula Duarte Rocha is a partner at MDR Advogados.
Paula Duarte Rocha has extensive experience in the Mozambican market, working in a wide range of practice areas and advising both private companies, whether national or foreign investors, and public companies. She also has extensive experience and a remarkable track record in banking and project finance transactions. Recognised for her practice in international transactions and regulatory matters.
Paula Duarte Rocha has developed the know-how to advise economic operators and contracting authorities on public procurement and public-private partnerships.
Paula Duarte Rocha is registered with the CACM - Centre for Arbitration, Conciliation and Mediation of Mozambique as an arbitrator (since 2002), with a relevant focus on commercial arbitration, either as an arbitrator appointed by the parties or as president of the arbitral tribunal, having also been the national rapporteur for tax matters in Mozambique for the IBA (2012-2014). In January 2014 she began working with Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados, a Portuguese law firm, as a consultant on matters relating to Mozambique.
She is a member of the Mozambique Internationalisation Committee of the Commercial Arbitration Centre.
Paula Duarte Rocha is a lawyer registered with the Mozambican Bar Association. She was President of the National Internship and Entrance Examination Commission of the Mozambican Bar Association (2014) and subsequently a member of the National Council of the Mozambican Bar Association (2016).
Marcus Rother is a reknowed expert on renewable energy with >20 years experience in project development and fundraising. With FinanceCatalyst he has been focussing on IPPs, solar PAYG, minigrids and embedded generation in Southern Africa and is responsible for the Mozambique Country Window. Being a former senior Investment Officer at EU impact fund ElectriFI, he is well versed in catalytic finance, connecting public and private sector.
He closed over 600M USD IPP projects, headed business development teams for SunPower and FirstSolar in South Africa, and oversaw Voltalia´s Sub-Saharan Africa portfolio under bidding programmes in Madagascar, Zambia and Malawi.
Mayra Pereira is the founder of Gaia Consultoria. She has specialised over the years in the areas of renewable energy, the environment and sustainability. Mayra is a professional with an MSc in Environmental and Geographical Sciences and a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management from the University of Cape Town. She has more than 14 years' experience working in the energy and environmental sectors, especially in the areas of research and design (policy, feasibility studies), large-scale project management and business development services. Since May 2022 he has also served as President of ALER.
