The ECREEE Secretariat was established in November 2009 with support from the ECOWAS Commission, the Governments of Austria, Cape Verde, Spain and technical assistance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
The Centre aims at the establishment of regional renewable energy and energy efficiency markets by supporting various activities to mitigate existing barriers. The ECREEE activities include policy development and quality assurance, capacity development, the design and usage of tailored financing mechanisms and appraisal tools, awareness raising and the implementation of demonstration projects with potential for regional scaling-up.
The ceremony was attended by His Excellency, The President of the Canary Islands, The Austrian Ambassador of Senegal, The Spanish Ambassador to Cape Verde, the UNIDO Deputy Director-General, amongst other high-level government officials.
In his address, the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, H.E. Mr. Jose Maria Neves, emphasised the importance of the regional Centre for the Government of Cape Verde and the sustainable social, economic and environmental development of the West African region.
Alliance with the Canary Islands
Also speaking, the President of the Canary Islands, H.E Paulino Rivero Baute, expressed optimism that the Center will become the driving force in the field renewable energy in the ECOWAS region. He also noted that the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC) would partner with the Centre to provide technical support for its projects. This, he added, would be mutually beneficial, and foster a stronger relationship between the region and the Canary Islands.
In his speech, the President of the ECOWAS Commission said the inauguration of the Centre was an important step forward in providing the region’s population with access to energy services in a sustainable and environmentally benign manner. He also commended the Centre’s development partners, as well as the Government of Cape Verde for hosting the Centre and providing all the support required for the smooth running of the Centre.
West Africa and Brazil also come together
The ECOWAS President also expressed delight with the outcome of the just concluded historic ECOWAS-Brazil Summit, were both partners committed themselves to support the activities of ECREEE. A special ECOWAS Brazil Renewable Energy Partnership (EBREP) will open up opportunities for South-South Cooperation and technology and know-how transfer.
Also speaking, H. E. Gerhard Doujak, the Austrian Ambassador of Austria, representing H. E. Michael Spindelegger, the Austrian Minister for European and International Affairs, noted that the work of ECREEE in Praia will contribute further to the mutual endeavours of ECOWAS and Austria in the sphere of renewable energy and energy efficiency. He also commended Cape Verde’s positive example in the area of renewable energy, which he said, would compliment the Centre’s activities.
In his remarks, the UNIDO Deputy Director-General, Mr. Yoshiteru Uramoto, representing the Director-General, Mr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, assured of UNIDO’s support to the Centre in its role of rapidly deploying renewable energy technologies and knowledge in the ECOWAS region. It was announced that ECREEE will become one of the main executing agencies for a $150 million programme, partly financed by GEF. The programme aims at supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency in West Africa.
Following the speeches, the headquarter agreement between the Government of Cape Verde and the ECOWAS Commission was signed by the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
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