The Second Stakeholder Forum of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) presented a call for action from participants to ensure the delivery of sustainable energy for Africa post-COP21. The event, which was organised by, the Italian Government, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the European Union Commission (EC), with support of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) secretariat, focused on the advancement of renewable energy innovation, investment and Africa and Europe cooperation under the theme of Business and Science: Leading the Way to Sustainable Energy.
The Forum, which took place from 16 to 17 May 2016 in Milan (Italy),welcomed African and European Ministers, AU and EU Commissioners, and more than 500 participants representing including policy-makers, regional institutions, international organisations, the banking and finance industry, the private sector, academia, civil society and the media. Discussions at the event were centred on facilitating partnerships for on-the-ground implementation, as well as influencing energy policy to provide an enabling framework for stakeholders to contribute to the rapid development of sustainable energy in Africa.
H.E. Dr. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy, African Union Commission, commented that, “Energy provision and access has never been before more important for Africa than now. This event has provided an essential forum for us to discuss the ways in which business, academia and government can work together in the form of partnerships for concrete projects as well as carrying joint research studies to deliver a sustainable energy future for the continent.”
H.E. Dr Elham Ibrahim, together with other high level delegates participated in a high level panel as well as a press conference including H.E. Irene Muloni, Ugandan Minister of Energy and Minaral Development ; H.E. Mario Giro, Vice Minister, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Dr. Mohamed Omran, representing H. E. Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Egypt; H. E. Thomas Silberhorn, Parliamentary State Secretary, Germany and H.E. Dr Kipyego Cheluget, Deputy Secretary General, COMESA.
Discussion topics of the forum ranged from energy access, energy security and catalysing energy investment linking to climate and energy post-COP21. Attendees discussed progress towards AEEP’s 2020 Targets and the interim Status Report 2016 towards targets achievement was launched during the Stakeholder forum. The targets are grouped in three categories: energy access, energy security as well as renewable energy and energy efficiency.
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Providing 100 million Africans with Energy Access For energy access the aim is to provide access to sustainable energy to at least an additional 100 Million people in Africa until 2020. This target will likely be achieved in terms of electricity access; however more action is required in terms of cooking energy. |
Power interconnection and gas consumption Although progress has been slow in terms of energy security, recently announced regional transmission projects suggests that, with improved project delivery, the AEEP target of doubling cross border electricity transmission capacity by 2020 could be met. Among other energy security targets, gas consumption in Africa plateaued in 2012-14, due to political and economic challenges that have also had an impact on gas exports to Europe, which fell to 46bcm in 2014, having peaked at 84.9bcm in 2006. |
Unlocking opportunities for renewable energy and energy efficiency in Africa Africa has witnessed a large increase in the installation of solar PV, with 600 MW of new capacity, over achieving the target set by 2020. The targets for hydropower are defined at 10,000MW new installed capacity and for wind at 5,000MW. For wind and hydro power capacity more efforts are needed to boost investments and targets will only be met if most projects currently in pipeline are actually realised. |
The Call for Action to ensure continued progress in meeting these targets was presented and agreed, with a focus on capacity development, the prioritisation of renewable energy generation, the need for coordination among actors and the importance of meeting the particular needs of women and youth.
Closing the event, stakeholders issued a communiqué summarising the key outcomes of the meeting. The Stakeholders acknowledged and reaffirmed their responsibility to ensure a sustainable energy future for the continent of Africa. They called upon the private sector, civil society and academia to be more critical and play the central role in fostering sustainable energy programs, projects, investments and policy frameworks and not to leave this to the public sector alone, since this cannot be achieved solely through public investments.
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of African Union Commission (AUC).
Source: Apo-Opa
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