The four-day workshop aims to strengthen the capacities of rural electrification agencies and private sector to plan, install and maintain renewable energy based mini-grids. During the opening session, ECREEE and UNIDO presented a new proposal for a regional project to upscale investments in renewable energy mini-grid industries in the 15 ECOWAS member states.
"The workshop will help achieve the rural electrification targets of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy, which aims to serve 25% of the rural population with renewable energy mini-grids and stand-alone systems by 2030. We hope that through such workshops and regional projects, we can create economies of scales and attract the private sector investments," said Mahama Kappiah, Executive Director of ECREEE.
The workshop coincided with the official launch of the project, "Promoting investments in small to medium-scale renewable energy technologies in the electricity sector of Guinea Bissau", which is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and implemented by UNIDO, ECREEE and the Ministry of Energy and Industry. Participants at the launch event made a field visit to the PV hybrid project in Bambadinca village in the Bafata Region.
Supported by the European Union, UNIDO and other partners, the project will provide electricity services to around 6.500 people and help boost productivity in agricultural clusters.
"Due to the heavy dependence on expensive diesel generation, electricity generation costs and consumers tariffs in Guinea Bissau are among the highest in West Africa, and this chronic energy crisis hampers the social, economic and industrial development of the country. Through interventions in the area of technology demonstration, policy support and capacity development, the project will help transform the country's electricity sector towards more sustainable patterns," said UNIDO's Martin Lugmayr, who manages this project.
The workshop was attended by the Minister of Energy, Florentino Mendes Pereira, as well as representatives from key partner organizations, including UNIDO, GEF, ECREEE, the Small Island Developing States Sustainable Energy and Climate Resilience Initiative (SIDS DOCK), the Ministry of Energy and Industry, and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
For more information, please contact:
Martin Lugmayr,
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