FG, ECOWAS move to achieve sustainable energy targets

The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and Nigeria’s Ministry of Power are set to host a forum aimed at achieving sustainable energy targets in the region.

A statement by the Communication sector of ECREEE indicated that the theme for the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2022) is, “Achieving Sustainable Energy Targets in the ECOWAS Region: Moving from Resilience to Transition.”

The event, which is the seventh edition, is expected to hold from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 in Abuja with President Muhammadu Buhari expected to be in attendance.

The two-day event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders from within and outside the West African region.

The expected participants include high-level representatives from government, regional and international development partners or donors.

Also expected to grace the event are regional and international private sector companies, financial institutions, academia and research and civil society representatives.

Participants would discuss and proffer solutions to the challenges hampering the development of a regional sustainable energy market.

They would also examine policies needed to improve the energy security and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7) targets, and what is needed to transition to a low-carbon energy trajectory in the region.

Some of the sustainable energy targets are;

• To ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by 2030,
• Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030, and
• Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
• Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and
• Promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.

According to the statement, ECREEE is the specialised agency of ECOWAS with a mandate for promoting sustainable energy markets in the West African region.

ECREEE instituted the ESEF in 2016 to mobilise investment in the region’s sustainable energy sector.

The forum has since become the largest sustainable energy gathering in the West African region, providing a veritable platform for collaboration and transformative progress towards achieving the region’s sustainable energy targets.

The event would also feature an exhibition for organisations looking to showcase their products and services.

ESEF2022 would also host an innovative Business-to-Business (B2B) Matchmaking to serve as an avenue to foster partnerships, business development and investment.

The forum is organised in collaboration with partners including the Nigerian Ministry of Power, the Austrian Development Agency, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.

Others are: the Global Green Growth Institute, the World Bank Group, the Clean Technology Fund, the Government of the Netherlands.

Also listed as partners are the Sustainable Energy for All, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the United Nations Development Programme, amongst others.