VISIT BY TWO MINISTERS FROM COTE D’IVOIRE TO ECREEE

On March 10th 2014, an Ivorian delegation composed of two ministers from the Ministries of Tourism and Foreign Affairs visited the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) with the aim to discuss issues related to the energy sector and the status of the energy situation seeking improvement for their country (Cote D’Ivoire).

The delegation was comprised  H.E. Charles Koffi Diby, Minister of Sate and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Roger Kacou Minister for Tourism and the Cape Verdean homologous H.E. Humberto Brito who is responsible for the Tourism, Industry and Energy.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Bah Saho, Renewable Energy Expert of ECREEE, who welcomed the delegation on behalf  of the Executive Director, Mr. Mahama Kappiah, and expressed his appreciation  for such honorable visit.

Mr. Soumaila, Energy Efficiency Expert of ECREEE, made a presentation of the organization, during which he highlighted on the key programs and activities being carried out by the institution. During the presentation he also addressed the potential existent in the region approaching some of the potential identified in Côte d’Ivoire such as the small hydro and biomass which Cote d’Ivoire is among the top-three in the region. The ECOWAS Observatory (ECOWREX) was another topic discussed   in the presentation, since it is a tool developed by the Centre which can be used by everyone in order to explore the potential and indentify projects in terms of renewable energy, on each of the 15 countries of the ECOWAS region.

After the presentation H.E. Charles Koffi Diby, Minister of State in-charge of   Foreign Affairs congratulated the Centre for such huge work carried out in the region and reiterated that it is with a “deep admiration” that he sees the existence of this institution. He explained his perspective by declaring that fossil energy is expensive and reiterated the   importance to enhance and promote renewable energy technologies to increase its percentage in the energy mix in this region which has one of the lowest energy consumption rates of the world, and one of the regions with the greatest natural potential.

Mr. Diby stated that the visit of the delegation is within the framework of a bilateral cooperation between Cote d’Ivoire and Cape Verde, and it is crucial to watch closely the example of Cape Verde because it is a country with lot of experience in the sector of RE, politically stable and “good economic indicators”.