Kenyan President William Ruto has opened the 25th Africa Energy Forum (aef) hosted in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
The forum which is being hosted in Africa for the first time has gathered senior policymakers, industry executives, investors, researchers and innovators to discuss energy security in Africa.
More than 4,000 delegates including ministers, heads of power utilities, regulators, multilateral lenders and investors are attending the 25th Africa energy forum in Nairobi from June 20-23.
The four-day forum, held under the theme: ‘Africa for Africa’, focuses on strategic themes including scaling-up renewables uptake, breaking down barriers to green energy transition and positioning Africa as a hydrogen powerhouse.
More than 20 African ministers and investors from 82 countries across the globe are participating in the forum that is expected to adopt a new roadmap for revitalising energy security in the continent.
Delivering a keynote address, President Ruto said securing a greener, prosperous and resilient future for Africa calls for the optimal harnessing of the continent’s vast renewable energy sources like hydropower, geothermal, solar and wind.
He said that by investing in cross-border energy projects, African countries would bridge the access gap that has stifled industrialisation, poverty alleviation and social cohesion.
Ruto reiterated Kenya’s commitment to lead continental efforts in upscaling the adoption of green energy as a means to boost climate response, create jobs for youth and women and inject vibrancy into local manufacturing.
Davis Chirchir, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, said that Africa’s premier energy gathering would discuss targeted financing alongside policy and regulatory incentives required to boost clean lighting and cooking in line with the continent’s quest for meeting net-zero targets.
“Charting a new course for energy security in the continent is paramount to help achieve sustainable development. We must, therefore, unlock our huge green energy potential and boost global climate response,” Chirchir said.
Simon Gosling, the Managing Director of EnergyNet Limited, an international firm that organises investment forums for Africa’s power sector, said the continent should leverage a skilled workforce, technologies and innovations as it embarks on a green energy transition.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com