LOMÉ, TOGO - EQS Newswire - 11 December 2024 - On Tuesday 3
December, after welcome remarks from Abdoulaye Sylla, Portfolio Manager
& Head of Corporate Development, EnergyNet, the work began.
Speaking on behalf of the World Bank Group, Kwawu Mensan Gaba, Practice
Manager, Africa West Energy Unit, expressed the Group's strong
commitment to building a sustainable energy future for West Africa.
"Since 2020, we have mobilised more than $5 billion for energy projects
in West Africa. Through our Mission 300 initiative, launched in
Washington DC in April 2024, in partnership with the African Development
Bank Group, we aim to gather large-scale and innovative financing to
deliver universal access to electricity in the region. This initiative,
which is integral to our vision of a just energy transition, combines
investments, reforms, and technological solutions to guarantee reliable,
sustainable and affordable energy for all."
H.E. Honourable Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy,
and Digitalisation, ECOWAS, highlighted the challenge for communities in
the ECOWAS region where, despite the vast energy resources available,
only 56% of households have access to electricity.
"The recent initiative by the African Development Bank and the World
Bank to provide electricity to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa -
half the continent's population without access - is highly commendable.
We hope to receive a proportionate share of this effort, which will
benefit 100 million people in West Africa, based on the size of our
population and current levels of access."
H.E. Honourable Robert Koffi Messan Eklo, Minister of Mines & Energy
Resources, Togolese Republic, gave the ministerial opening and called
for commitment and change.
"The time has come to turn words into action. I solemnly call on all the
stakeholders present to make a solid commitment to embrace this energy
transformation. To policymakers, I urge you to create the favourable
conditions for investment and innovation. To private investors, I call
upon you to seize the opportunities offered by our rapidly changing
energy sector. And to technical and financial partners, I call upon you
to provide continuous support for our efforts."
The summit was honoured by the presence of H.E. Honourable Victoire
Tomegah Dogbé, Prime Minister, Togolese Republic, who highlighted Togo's
significance in the region.
"Togo stands out as a major energy hub, thanks to its world-class
infrastructure dedicated to the transhipment and storage of
hydrocarbons. Its dual expertise, both port and offshore, provides a
secure fuel supply for both West Africa and the entire Atlantic
corridor. Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency Mr Faure
Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic, Togo is fully
committed to facilitating investment by providing a transparent and
attractive regulatory framework, encouraging local innovations so that
our energy solutions can be adapted to our current needs, and fostering
regional and international exchanges so that we can move forward
together."
By the close of the summit, on Thursday 5 December, progress had already been made,
Tchapo Singo, Director General of Energy, Ministry of Mines & Energy
Resources, summarised findings and actions to be taken, including
guidelines for securing fuel and energy supplies, strengthening
inter-state cooperation, committing to policy and regulatory reforms,
focusing on skills developments, and increasing the role of natural gas,
a key component of the region's energy future.
"We are delighted that the Summit provided an ideal framework for Togo
to take concrete action by signing two memorandums of understanding: one
with HAIER as part of a partnership to strengthen Togo's technological
capacity in the field of renewable energies, particularly for solar
power plants; and another with RELP, providing technical and
institutional support to the Ministry of Mines & Energy Resources
with the aim of providing universal access to electricity. Togo has also
made a commitment to young people in the energy sector by immediately
offering internships and jobs to 50 young people."
Closing the ceremony, H.E. Honourable Mawusi Kakatsi, Minister Delegate
to the Minister of Mines & Energy Resources, expressed his thanks to
the World Bank Group and said:
"We all understand that it is together, in a spirit of cooperation, that
we will be able to accelerate the process and achieve the results
desired by each of our countries, as well as to build the sustainable
and prosperous energy future that is expected by our respective
populations. Once again, I would like to reiterate the heartfelt
gratitude of the Togolese Government to each and every one of you for
taking part.
Please allow me to extend our congratulations to the leaders of EnergyNet, our partner in organising this summit."
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EnergyNet Ltd..
Download image (1):
https://apo-opa.co/3ZuoKnR (Caption: Kwawu Mensan Gaba, Practice Manager, Africa West Energy Unit, World Bank Group)
Download image (2):
https://apo-opa.co/3ZvDOBN (Caption: H.E. Honourable Victoire Tomegah Dogbé, Prime Minister, Togolese Republic)
Download image (3):
https://apo-opa.co/3ZMsu5l (Caption: H.E. Honourable Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, ECOWAS)
Download image (4):
https://apo-opa.co/3ZO4Zcq (Caption: WA ECS group photo)