The twelfth international conference on the “Industrial & Commercial Use of Energy “ (ICUE) offers a forum for professionals manufacturers, distributors and installers of all energy systems in commerce and industry, to discuss the latest developments and the effective use of all forms of energy. ICUE provides cutting-edge “real world” solutions to reduce energy losses and related costs. Technologies to improve overall performance in industrial plants, business, institutional and government facilities, will be addressed. Participants will be informed of the latest regulatory and market trends and get firsthand reports on successful projects. Delegates will explore the complete spectrum of resources now offered by energy service providers to help reduce energy costs, analyse energy data and develop demand side management strategies. ICUE focuses on promoting sustainable development particularly in Southern African countries, through the effective use of energy. Developing as well as developed countries jointly face many challenges of a global nature. Technical, economic, social and environmental issues will find a place in the envisaged plenary and theme sessions. Managing the rising cost of energy in all sectors has become an important issue. It is therefore necessary to address effective energy production and management in commerce and industry in order to reduce operational costs. For this to happen, the country’s skills training programmes have to be revisited. Energy efficiency and the implementation of effective energy saving measures and strategies remain very important.