Pollutec 2018, the major international environmental exhibition, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, will open its doors from November 27 to 30, 2018. Every two years, more than 70,000 visitors and representatives from 130 countries, via exhibitors and foreign delegations, converge in Lyon (France). Among them, decision makers and principals from about twenty African countries are meeting again this year in the Africa Area of the exhibition. They will be led by representatives from Burkina Faso, the guest of honour of this year's edition, who will also participate in the rich programme of African conferences.
Pollutec 2018 this year celebrates its 40th anniversary and the exhibition will be held from November 27 to 30, 2018, in Lyon. In four decades, the show has undergone a major transformation. From a local and pioneering event, it has become the major international environmental technology exhibition known today. In the meantime, nearly 130 countries are represented at Pollutec. Including more than twenty African States, most of them French-speaking, but not only…. Because the organisers understood early on the extent of African growth, environmental issues and the dynamism of the green economy on the old continent.
In 2003 and 2004, Algeria and Morocco were successively invited as guests of honour at the show. And it is actually from 2014, with the invitation extended to Ivory Coast and the creation of the Africa region, that Pollutec will further intensify its cooperation with sub-Saharan African clients.
Burkina Faso, guest of honour at Pollutec 2018, in the midst of a transition
Africa’s leading cotton exporter, Burkina Faso has an economy that is heavily dependent on agriculture and has recorded high growth rates over the past two years (+5.9% in 2016 and +6.4% in 2017). This dynamic will only be sustained if it is adapted to climate change and if the rate of access to electricity is increased, particularly through the production of renewable energies. It is something that the leaders have become aware of as the country, supported by the major banking institutions, is bursting with initiatives in this direction.
As a founding member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the country announced through its president, Roche Kaboré that “solar energy will represent nearly 30% of the energy used in the country”. A year ago, Emmanuel Macron was present at the inauguration of the Zagtouli power plant, the largest solar farm in West Africa. Since then, solar power plant projects have multiplied in all directions. Urbasolar was not mistaken in this respect. On October 16, Arnaud Mine, its president, received Prime Minister Paul Kaba. The issue of solar energy in Burkina Faso was at the centre of discussions.
At the same time, major efforts are being made on water and sanitation, which are supported by several international institutions. In this regard, more than 1.7 million people have recently benefited from the Urban Water Sector Project (UWSP), conducted with the World Bank. Last June, the West African Development Bank made a further €15 million available for water and sanitation. As part of the Ouagadougou Drinking Water Supply Project, the country’s capital, Electrosteel, a French company specialising in the supply of pipelines, has just won a €7 million contract. Among other projects, the construction of a new sustainable city, Yennenga, 15 km from Ouaga, has also been launched… In preparation for Pollutec, the Burkinabe delegation pinpointed five main topics for discussion: water, waste, energy, sustainable cities and sustainable agriculture.
Twenty other African countries represented at Pollutec 2018
In addition to the very large delegation from Burkina Faso, more than 800 African decision makers and project leaders will be specially delegated by their countries to Pollutec. More than twenty nations are concerned, mainly French-speaking regions, but not only: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia will be represented at Pollutec this year.
The largest delegations expected will come from Côte d’Ivoire, with about 100 people present, mainly companies; from Cameroon, with a large delegation, including members of the Renewable Energy Union; Morocco, led by Mr. Aziz Rabbah, Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Sustainable Development, and Mrs. Nezha El Ouafi, Secretary of State for Sustainable Development with a delegation from the Rabat Salé Kenitra region; Tunisia, whose delegation is led by the Tunisian Minister of Local Affairs and Environment with local officials very interested in water technologies; Ghana represented by some sixty delegates; and not forgetting Togo, Benin (through the mayors’ association) and Kenya (with the governors’ association).
All these project leaders will meet in the Africa Area in Hall 4, where some desks are proposed, but above all a networking space as well as a series of conferences with a rather dense programme, especially during the day of Thursday November 29.
Tuesday, November 27: 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
What technologies and solutions for climate, their promotion and implementation in the most fragile countries.
Organiser: Climate Technology Centre & Network
Wednesday, November 28 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Ivory Coast: technological solutions “climate and environment” and the role of companies in the implementation of green solutions.
Organiser: Hémisphère (International Cooperation for Development and Environmental Protection).
Thursday, November 29: 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Sharing recycling skills around the world: innovations in Africa
Organiser: Economical Waste Management (EWM)
Thursday, November 29: 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
The treatment of solid and liquid industrial waste in Ivory Coast
Organiser: Kayam-CI
Thursday, November 29: 12 noon to 12:45 p.m.
Waste collection and recycling in Ivory Coast
Organiser: Planet verte association 365 days
Thursday, November 29: 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm
Creation of a reference centre of environmental expertise in the West African region
Organisers: IGEDD
Thursday, November 29: 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
Climate situation and activities in Benin
Organiser: National entity designated (NNE) by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Thursday, November 29: 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Climate situation and activities in Burkina Faso
Organiser: National entity designated (NNE) by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Thursday, November 29: 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm
Presentation of Bond’Innov, start-up incubator and PneuPur, a start-up that recycles tyres in Cameroon
Organisers: Bond’Innov
In addition, Africa, its challenges and markets will also be addressed during the many events hosted by Pollutec 2018, such as the International Summit of Cities and Territories on the Circular Economy.
Feel free to register and communicate with Pollutec organisers via the Africa Area form,if you want to interact with delegations or companies interested in the African market, it’s free. You can also simply book your badge and come and meet us at the Afrik 21 desk.
Christoph Haushofer
