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

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Published On - July 20, 2023

Webmaster Executive Director Speeches

Regional Workshop to launch the development of the Regional Green Hydrogen Strategy and the 2023-2030 and 2031-2050 Action Plans

Niamey, July 20, 2023

  • Mr. Representative of the Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy
  • Gentlemen and Ladies Representatives of ECOWAS Member States in charge of Renewable Energy
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, Directors and Managers of the Department in charge of Energy of Niger
  • Representatives of the Energy and Mines Directorate of the ECOWAS Commission, the West African Electric Power Exchange System and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Sector Authority
  • Mr. Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Coordinator of WASCAL
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, WASCAL Staff
  • Dear ECREEE Colleagues,
  • Distinguished Guests,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
  • Dear participants,

It is an honor for me to speak on this day which launches the operationalization of the implementation of the ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Policy.

Before continuing my remarks, allow me to express my sincere thanks to the Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy, for his constant support to ECREEE in the accomplishment of its mission and for having agreed to referee this meeting in Niger. My thanks also go to all the staff of the Ministry of Energy and its attached structures for the close collaboration with our teams.

To return to the topic of the day and as you know, the ECOWAS Regional Green Hydrogen Policy was adopted on July 6 and 7, 2023 during the meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers which took place in Bissau in Guinea Bissau.

Also, I would like to warmly thank WASCAL and BMBF, who support ECOWAS and ECREEE for the promotion of Green Hydrogen in West Africa. The adoption of the Green Hydrogen Policy constitutes an important result of this support and I can count on their constant support for the rest of the process.

I would like to send a special mention to the WASCAL Regional Coordinator in charge of Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen for his leadership and vision within the framework of this initiative. I want to quote Dr Bruno KORGO whom I ask to applaud to recognize his commitment.

Dear Representatives of the Ministries in charge of Energy, ECREEE recognizes your determination in the promotion of renewable energies in general and Green Hydrogen specifically. Your support was essential and decisive for the success of this Policy.

Also, I know how to count on you for the next steps and I have no doubt of your commitment to achieving the objectives of the Green Hydrogen Policy.

Ladies and gentlemen,
The date of October 20, 2023 is now one of the reference dates for the promotion of Green Hydrogen in West Africa. It marks the launch of the development of the Regional Green Hydrogen Strategy and related Action Plans. It completes the following dates:

  • April 7 and 8, 2022 in Dakar: Launch of the development of the Policy
  • June 2022 in Banjul: Technical Workshop on Green Hydrogen Data
  • October 19, 2022 in Abidjan: Expert validation technical workshop
  • March 24, 2023 in Bissau: Adoption of the Policy by ECOWAS Energy Ministers
  • July 7, 2023 in Bissau: Adoption of the Policy by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.

ECREEE and its Partners will play their part for the operationalization of the Regional Green Hydrogen Policy.

Celle contributes to the achievement of SDG 7 which advocates Sustainable Energy for All by 2023, this objective cannot be achieved without better consideration of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

Ladies and gentlemen,

ECREEE, through its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, gives pride of place to local content and this data will be integrated into the ongoing process.

I must point out that Niger is a pioneering country in the promotion of Green Hydrogen and I can count on the sharing of experiences which will allow us to make notable progress.

A prominent place will be given to Green Hydrogen during the 8th edition of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2023) which will take place from October 12 to 13, 2023 in Praia in Cape Verde, on the theme “Strengthening sustainable energy in the ECOWAS region”.

Ladies and gentlemen

Dear Representatives of ECOWAS Member States, I renew my thanks to you for your mobilization.

I wish you all a successful launch of the implementation of the Policy.

Thank you.