High-Level Africa Consultative Forum
IRENA is hosting a High-level Africa Consultative Forum in Abu Dhabi, 8-9 July. The high level consultative forum will provide an opportunity for Ministers of Energy from Africa to engage with experts from Regional Economic Commissions, national entities, international partners, the UAE Government, the African Development Bank, African Union-United Nations Regional Consultative Mechanism, the European Union-Africa Energy partnership, key energy NGOs and others. IRENA is convening the meeting to discuss specific implementation challenges facing Africa with respect to renewable energy technologies as well as practical approaches to generate the critical policy and technical information, advice and capacity that is required to support the extensive deployment of renewable energy in Africa.
Abu Dhabi Communiqué on Renewable Energy for Accelerating Africa’s Development Adopted at IRENA-Africa High -Level Consultation
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Confirmed participants to date include:
States:
- Angola - Ms. Emanuaela Lopez, Minister of Energy
- Benin - H.E. Badarou Moutairou Raoufou, Deputy Minister
- Burkina Faso - Mr. Kabore Lamoussa Salif, Minister of Mines, Carriers and Energy
- Central African Republic - H.E. Mboli Fatran Leopold, Ministry of Energy and Hydraulic
- Chad - Mr. Tabe Eugene N’Gaoulam, Minister of Petrol and Energy
- Comoros - H.E. Fouad Mohadji, Vice President in charge of Energy
- Congo - Mr. Itoua Bruno Jean Richard, Minister of Energy and Hydraulics
- Djibouti - Mr. Fouad Ahmed Aye, Minister of Energy
- Egypt – Dr. Haasan Youonis, Minister of Electricity and Energy
- Eritrea - Mr. Ahmed Haj Ali, Minister of Energy and Mines
- Gambia – Mr. Mamadou Tangara – Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Guinea-Bissau – Mr. Higino Cardoso, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
- India - Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy
- Kenya - Mr. Mohamed Maalim Mohamud, Ministry of Energy, Assistant Minister
- Liberia – Mr. Walter S. McCarthy, Deputy Minister for Administration
- Mali – Mr. Habib Ouane - Minister of Energy and Water
- Sao Tome and Principe, Mr. Minister Carlos Vila Nova, Minister of Public Building and Natural Resources
- Senegal - Mr. Louis Seck, Minister of Energy
- Sierra Leone - Prof. Ogunlade Davidson-Minister of energy and Water Resources
- Somalia - Mr. Abdirizaq Sh. Muhedin - Minister of Energy, Mining, Petroleum and Water
- South Africa - Ms. Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy
- Sudan - Mr. Elsadig Mohamed Ali Elsheikh – State Minister- Ministry of Electricity and Dams
- Swaziland – Mr. Tsandzile Dlamini - Minister of Natural Resources and Energy
- Togo - Mr. Noupokou Dammipi, Minister of Mines and Energy
- Uganda - Mr Simon D’Ujanga, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
- United Republic of Tanzania - Mr. Adam Kighoma Ali Malima, Deputy Minister
- Zimbabwe – Mr. Hubert Nyanhongo - Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development
Others
African Energy Policy Research Network (AFREPREN) - Stephen Karekezi – Director
African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) – Dr. Youba Sokona
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) - Prof. M. Elmissiry, Head of Energy Division
ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) - Mr. Mahama Kappiah, Executive Director
Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) - Kobie Brand, Regional Director
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri
Turkana Lake Wind Project (Kenya) – Mr. Carlo Van Vageningen
Energy Research Institute – China - Mr. Mr. Li Junfeng- Deputy Director General
BACKGROUND:
Africa accounts for 5% of global primary energy use today, but for 15% of the world population. In 2009, 657 million Africans relied on traditional biomass and 587 million people lacked access to electricity. The provision of energy is inextricably linked with many key challenges in developing countries, particularly in Africa. For the energy policies to fuel economic development, they would need to factor in the trends that are reflective of the change in the energy mix to modern fuels, the growth of the per-capital energy use and the growth of population at rates faster than the global average. These three factors put tremendous pressure on Africa energy supply.
Meeting energy needs and addressing the challenge of energy access and energy security is an issue of primary significance for the countries in Africa. The African union has strongly backed the development of renewable energy as part of the drive for universal access to energy. In March 2010, AU Heads of State and Government called on the international community to support the efforts of African least development, landlocked countries and small island developing states, in promoting the development, production and use of new and renewable sources of energy.
The Conference of Energy Ministers of Africa (CEMA), in November 2010, in the “Maptuo Declaration” made a strong commitment to: supporting measures for increased access to modern energy, energy security, promotion of renewable energies and energy efficiency both at the continental and sub-regional levels, through the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).