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column energy

After malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, Several projects are already underway to
smoke is the biggest killer of women and improve power generation in the sub- The Freetown meeting was
children. It has emerged as an important region, including regional organizations a great start to coordinating
risk factor in the spread and severity and transnational projects to better efforts to end energy poverty
of chronic respiratory diseases like interconnect the power grids of the four in the MRU and help combat
chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive countries. The Freetown meeting provided
pulmonary disease, and asthma. But an opportunity to better coordinate these the threats posed by black
the solution is simple; according to and many other projects while sharing carbon. However, the hard
Yumkella, ending household air pollution- knowledge and improving cooperation. work of implementing the
related deaths is as straightforward The governments of the MRU recommendations still lies
as delivering clean-cooking solutions. demonstrated their commitment to ahead. Regional cooperation
Nowhere is the need for alternative the issues of clean power generation and coordination will be key
to ending energy poverty,
energy more acute than in the Mano by sending high-level representation to developing renewable energy,
River Union (MRU) countries of Liberia, Freetown. The President of Sierra Leone
Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone. officially opened the meeting and delivered and confronting climate
In November this year, a high-level multi- a keynote address. He noted that there change.
stakeholder renewable energy and clean was no need for a region with so much
cooking conference was held in Freetown, potential to be so energy poor. With near-
Sierra Leone. The meeting provided an perpetual sunlight, untapped biomass
opportunity for an in-depth discussion on potential, strong winds, numerous rivers,
five key thematic areas – energy access, abundant natural gas, and a vast belt of
sub-regional power trade, clean cooking, clean geothermal reserves, he said, the
utilities infrastructures and the energy- region’s energy needs could easily be met.
health and economic development nexus.
The meeting included a wide variety of
stakeholders, and national leaders were
joined by civil society groups as well
Several projects are already as representatives from the Economic
underway to improve Community of West African States
power generation in the (ECOWAS), the Centre for Renewable Abdul Tejan-Cole is a Senior Director
sub-region, including Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), with Mighty Earth
regional organizations and Power Africa, Global Renewable Congress,
transnational projects to UNOPS, HIVOS, and many others.
better interconnect the power Following two days of engaging
grids of the four countries. discussions, the meeting concluded www.vensys.de
The Freetown meeting that the governments of MRU should
provided an opportunity to work together to harmonize policies
better coordinate these and for renewable energy and off-grid
many other projects while solutions across the four countries; seek
sharing knowledge and technical assistance from international
improving cooperation. development partners to undertake
The governments of the relevant technical studies regarding status
MRU demonstrated their of clean cooking solutions; establish an
commitment to the issues MRU association of private sector actors
of clean power generation in renewable energy and clean cooking
by sending high-level solutions; commit themselves to enhance
representation to Freetown. cooperation amongst legislators in the VENSYS HYCON
fields of energy, energy regulators, and The all-in-one solution
ministries of energy; undertake the among the converters.
The President of Sierra Leone officially development of a roadmap for regional
opened the meeting and delivered a energy market integration; coordinate
keynote address. He noted that there to strengthen a business enabling
was no need for a region with so much environment to attract private investment
potential to be so energy poor. With near- to the energy sectors of the sub-region;
perpetual sunlight, untapped biomass explore and pursue relevant, opportunities
potential, strong winds, numerous rivers, for cross-border trade amongst MRU
abundant natural gas, and a vast belt of member states; and commit to having
clean geothermal reserves, he said, the an annual multi-stakeholders meeting.
region’s energy needs could easily be met.

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