Benfield Launches Natural Hazard Centre in Africa

Posted on November 12, 2008

Formed in collaboration with Benfield, the world’s leading independent reinsurance and risk intermediary, the Centre at the University of Pretoria will undertake, publish and promote research and the advancement of knowledge in natural hazards, with particular emphasis on seismic and weather-related risk throughout Africa.

This centre, to be located in the University’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, will also assist in developing Benfield’s proprietary Geographical Analysis Project (GAP) earthquake model – GAPQuake South Africa. This is aimed at benefiting customers and the insurance market in the region.

Prof Calie Pistorius - Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria - said that the University of Pretoria is proud to be a catalyst of note within the Benfield Natural Hazard Centre, Africa.

"Endeavours such as this collaboration with industries and the university are vital in not only assisting to position the university as a world class institution, but specifically focus on the upliftment of the African continent at large. The Centre will assist in creating the point of intersection whereby academia reaches out to the various sectors with the aim to predict and lower the risks involved in various natural hazards that causes the unnecessary loss of so many lives," he said.

Prof Pistorius indicated that the Benfield Natural Hazard Centre, Africa is a step ahead that allows the University to not only serve our local stakeholders in the insurance industries and community as a whole, but acts as a multi-disciplinary platform whereby postgraduate students and researchers find sensible solutions for the African continent.

“The development of centres that combine excellent research activities and the development of postgraduate students with a direct engagement with the private sector are particularly valued by the University. Through these activities the University is able to foster its research agenda while, at the same time, making a direct contribution to a field with immediate practical benefits to the country,” said Professor Robin Crewe, Vice-Principal of Research & Postgraduate Studies at the University of Pretoria.

The Benfield Natural Hazard Centre, Africa will be led by the University’s Professor Andrzej Kijko in close conjunction with Benfield’s South African office and the Benfield ReMetrics team. Professor Kijko has extensive skills in earthquake hazard modelling, mining catastrophe, and flood and meteorological risk.

“Benfield has a long history of sponsoring academic research and creating links with world-leading scientific research organisations”, said Grahame Chilton, Chief Executive of Benfield.

“The establishment of the Natural Hazard Centre, Africa, corresponds with our objective to create local centres of expertise which support our global business. This allows us to provide customers with independent technical expertise and knowledge of the natural hazard risks they may face for specific countries or territories.”

The establishment of the Centre at the University of Pretoria formalises a long-standing relationship between Benfield and Professor Kijko, which began during the development of Benfield’s GAPQuake South Africa model in 2003. As well as continuing to improve and enhance the quality of GAPQuake South Africa, the Centre will be assisting Benfield to extend its suite of GAP models. This will include a South African hail model which will be similar to those developed by Benfield for European storms.

According to Terry Ray, Managing Director of Benfield (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Africa is exposed to several types of natural hazard, including earthquake, windstorm, hail and flood.

“However, the relatively small number of catastrophe claims means the region is currently low on the catastrophe modelling companies’ list of priorities, despite the potential exposure,” said Mr Ray.

“This new centre forms part of our commitment to improve the understanding of natural hazard risk for Africa through the promotion of research into natural hazards that is of relevance to the local re/insurance community.”

Professor Kijko, Head of the Benfield Natural Hazards Centre, Africa emphasised the importance of the new facility.

“Africa witnesses diverse natural catastrophes and is becoming more vulnerable as the population and infrastructure grows. The creation of this centre encourages utilisation of geoscientific information collected for many years in order to quantify the natural hazards and risks in Africa. We cannot prevent a natural disaster, but we can take steps to minimise the negative effects.”

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