The presentation gives background to the formation of BHP Billiton from Gencor, a major coal supplier to Eskom. Background is also given to the secret pricing deals between Eskom and some of its largest customers, including BHP Billiton. The constitutional right of access to information held by public and private bodies is discussed, as well as the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) of 2000 that gives effect to this constitutional right. The PAIA application and subsequent court action launched by Jan de Lange and Sake 24 for access to information held by Eskom as a public body in respect of the secret commodity linked electricity pricing deals with BHP Billiton is discussed, together with the judgement, court order and current status of this case. Finally the importance and relevance of this matter is discussed in terms of the current generation capacity shortages, the reported losses currently being experienced by BHP Billiton's Mozal and Hillside aluminium smelters, the electricity price trajectory in South Africa, and the review of NERSA's electricity pricing methodology announced recently by the minister of energy and by President Zuma in his state-of-the-nation address.

Chris Yelland obtained a BSc degree in electrical engineering from the University of Natal in 1976, and is currently managing director at EE Publishers, the publisher of EngineerIT, Energize, Vector and PositionIT magazines. Chris was the winner of the 2002 SABS Media Award for "exceptional contribution to increasing the awareness of standardisation and related issues through the media". In 2003, he won a merit award in the Energy category of the 2003 Siemens Profile Awards, "recognising journalistic contribution to excellence in the field of science and technology". At the 2004 ABB Excellence in Technology Reporting Awards, Chris received the ABB Technology Journalist of the Year Award for 2004. In 2009, Chris won the South African National Energy Association (SANEA) Journalism Award for "special efforts within the field of journalism to promote greater understanding of energy and its role in sustaining human endeavours". Chris is a fellow of the SAIEE, a senior member of the IEEE (USA), and a member of the IET (UK). He is also a registered Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council in the UK.

The South African National Energy Association (SANEA) and EE Publishers invite you, your colleagues, friends and all interested persons to attend an open panel discussion and debate on:

Date:	Thursday 23 February 2012
Time:	15h30 for 16h00 to 18h00, with a cocktail party thereafter
Venue:	Axiz Auditorium, Midrand, Gauteng (click here for a map)
Cocktail Party:	A cocktail party will be served after the event.
Cost:	Except for bona fide working journalists, editors and camera crews covering the debate, there is a fee of R50 per person, payable at the door, to help cover catering costs.

Click here to register online and
reserve your seat(s)