Speech by the Executive Director of the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)

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Published On - July 23, 2023

Webmaster ECOWREX – ECOWAS Observatory for RE & EE, Executive Director Speeches

11th Meeting of National Focal Institutions of the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)

Niamey, July 24, 2023

  • Mr. Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy
  • Mr. Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Niger
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, ECREEE National Focal Points in ECOWAS Member States in charge of Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Energy Data Management
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, Directors and Managers of the Ministry in charge of Energy of Niger and related structures
  • Mr. Representative of the GiZ/ProMERC 2 Program Manager
  • Mr. WASCAL Regional Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Coordinator
  • Representatives of ECREEE Technical and Financial Partners
  • Dear Colleagues from the Directorate of Energy and Mines of the ECOWAS Commission, the West African Electric Power Exchange System and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Sector Authority
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, ECREEE Staff
  • Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
  • Distinguished Guests,

It is an honor to speak at the opening ceremony of the 11th meeting of the National Focal Institutions of the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in my capacity as Executive Director of ECREEE. It is also a privilege to address the ECREEE National Focal Points for the first time and I am pleased to recognize your commitment to promoting Sustainable Energy in West Africa.

Before continuing my remarks, I would like to thank the Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy for his constant support to ECREEE and I am grateful to him for hosting this meeting in Niger. My thanks also go to all of its collaborators who work closely with the ECREEE teams for the successful implementation of sustainable energy programs in the region and in Niger.

I must recognize Niger’s leadership in the promotion of Sustainable Energy in West Africa. As proof, I cite the inauguration on July 5, 2023 of the Gorou Banda photovoltaic solar power plant with a power of 30 MW. as well as the pioneering role of Niger in the promotion of Green Hydrogen.

My thanks also go to GiZ through the ProMERC Project which supports ECREEE in improving the Governance of the Energy sector in West Africa. I should point out that this meeting is organized with the support of GiZ.

To return to the subject of today’s meeting, allow me to remind you of the context of the creation of ECREEE which is the ECOWAS Specialized Agency in charge of the development of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Africa. the West.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Ouagadougou Declaration, adopted at the ECOWAS Peace and Security Conference which took place on November 12, 2007, highlighted the need to create a regional center to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. This declaration was followed by the adoption of the Regulations relating to the creation of ECREEE during the 61st session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on November 29, 2008.

It was on July 6, 2010 that ECREEE activities were officially launched in Praia, Cape Verde.

Subsequently, ECREEE established national focal institutions in each member state in order to increase the impact and effectiveness of the programs and projects developed under its leadership.

This followed the establishment of the ECREEE-IFNs annual meeting, the 10th meeting of which was held virtually in February 2022.
The 11th meeting which opens today has a special character because it is the first which is part of the operationalization of the ECREEE Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

As a reminder, this strategic plan was endorsed by the ECOWAS-Donor Consultation Committee during its meeting on November 7, 2022 in Abuja and was adopted by the ECOWAS Energy Ministers on March 24, 2023 in Bissau.
This strategic plan draws its foundations from ECOWAS Vision 2050 and is aligned with the 4×4 objectives of the ECOWAS Commission.

It is structured around three (3) strategic axes which are:

  • Strengthening Institutional, Administrative, Financial and Digital Governance
  • Improving the implementation of Programs and Projects
  • Strengthening partnerships and mobilizing resources.

At the operational level, the ECREEE 2023-2027 strategic plan is based on 3 regional programs and 3 regional initiatives. These are the regional Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Transversal programs. As for regional initiatives, these are the ECOWAS Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) Observatory (ECOWREX), the Annual Report on progress in RE and EE in South Africa. West and the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF).

Therefore, it is up to us to maintain these achievements but above all to intensify our action to accelerate the energy transition in our region. This is the spirit of the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan which must result in the creation of sustainable energy infrastructure

with a strong socio-economic impact for the well-being of our populations but also for better competitiveness of our businesses and of our industries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As you will have noticed, this meeting also brings together the Energy and Mines Directorate of the ECOWAS Commission, the West African Electric Power Exchange System (WAPP) and the Regional Regulatory Authority of the ECOWAS Electricity sector (ARREC/ERERA). While thanking the heads of these entities for their close collaboration, I must specify that the synergy of actions with a view to optimizing resources and efficiency of action figures prominently in the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan of the ECREEE.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I address a particular mention to the Technical and Financial Partners of ECREEE. I want to cite GiZ, Spanish cooperation through AECID, Austrian cooperation through ADA as well as UNIDO for their constant support.

While renewing my thanks to WASCAL and BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research), I must acknowledge their decisive and important support to ECREEE in the context of the promotion of Green Hydrogen in Africa. West.

Our thanks also go to the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Union, GiZ and UNDP.

I am grateful to the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the African Union Energy Commission (AFREC) and the Institute of La Francophonie for Sustainable Development (IFDD) for their active participation in this meeting through the day dedicated to Partners on July 27, 2023.

Ladies and Gentlemen National Focal Points,

I would like to express my gratitude for the quality of the collaboration and I am prepared to do everything possible to improve the mechanisms of communication and co-development of programs and projects at the regional and national level.

Mr. Director of Operations of ECREEE, Mr. Administrative and Financial Director of ECREEE, Dear Colleagues of ECREEE,

I reiterate my respect for your constant commitment and I congratulate you on the preparatory work carried out in the preparation of this meeting.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Before ending my remarks, I would like to take advantage of this forum to invite you to the 8th edition of the ECOWAS Forum on Sustainable Energy (ESEF 2023), which will take place from October 12 to 13, 2023 in Praia, Cabo Verde. Placed under the presidency of the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, ESEF 2023 is co-organized with the Government of Cape Verde through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy.
ECREEE benefits from numerous facilities offered by the Government of Cape Verde and this is the place for me to also recognize the quality of the existing collaboration between ECREEE and the Ministry in charge of Energy of Cape Verde as well as with the other Sustainable Energy players in Cape Verde.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I wish you fruitful deliberations during this 11th meeting of the ECREEE National Focal Institutions.

Thank you.
Thank You.
Muito Obrigado