RCREEE recognized as an Institutional Partner to Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI)

RCREEE Reveals Arab African Countries Leadership in “Africa High-Level Forum on Renewable Energy"

14 June 2019- Conakry, Guinea: RCREEE was officially recognized among the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) regional partner institutions during “Africa High Level Forum on Renewable Energy”. The Forum was held in Conakry, Guinea from 11 to 14 June 2019 under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Guinea and AREI Board of Directors chair, H.E. Professor Alpha Conde.

The main objective of the forum was to provide an opportunity for high-level decision makers and key stakeholders to exchange experiences of how to scale-up investments in the renewable energy sector in Africa through a wide variety of actions.  The forum resulted in recommendations on various issues affecting the renewable energy development in Africa with a focus on AREI goals. Among those of vital importance is allowing the possibility that the Independent Delivery Unit (IDU) of AREI to receive proposals from regional institutions including RCREEE for labeling renewable energy projects across the region as adopted by AREI. As highlighted by the IDU Director, Safiatou Nouhou, “AREI labeling would give the adopted projects the opportunity to make the project more visible to financing partners and a higher possibility to receive a partial grant component as part of the endeavors to reach AREI target.”

Speaking at the forum panel on the key role of regulation in boosting investments n sustainable energy; RCREEE Technical Director, Dr. Maged Mahmoud shed the light on the significant progress achieved in the African Arab Countries; Algeria, Egypt, Djibouti, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia and Tunisia, and the efforts already exerted towards improving regulatory frameworks, supporting business developers, strengthening public-private partnerships; and addressing challenges related to sustainable energy business.

Dr. Mahmoud revealed for the first time, based on the upcoming release of the Arab Future Energy Index, 2019, that by the end of 2018, the total installed renewable energy capacities in Arab African countries were around 11.9 GW representing 65% of total renewables capacities in RCREEE constituency; the Arab Region.

“Renewables targets in the African Arab Countries are estimated at a total of around 100GW by 2035, which would promise a project pipeline to achieve more than 25% of the AREI’s target in 2030”, Dr. Mahmoud noted.

Besides, RCREEE supported the ARIE West Africa Regional consultations organized in collaboration with the sister organization ECREEE, where Dr. Maged Mahmoud gave two lectures on the “Regional Approaches for Sustainable Energy Development in North Africa and the Middle East” and the “Dynamics of the Renewable Energy Markets in the Arab Countries”.

About the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)

The Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) is an intergovernmental organization with diplomatic status that aims to enable and increase the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in the Arab region. RCREEE teams with regional governments and global organizations to initiate and lead clean energy policy dialogues, strategies, technologies and capacity development in order to increase Arab states’ share of tomorrow’s energy. Having today 17 Arab countries among its members, RCREEE strives to lead renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives and expertise in all Arab states based on five core strategic impact areas: facts and figures, policies, people, institutions, and finance. For more, please visit RCREEE website

About Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI)

AREI is an African-led policy decision for Africa to increase and accelerate the domestication of the continent's renewable energy potential. The initiative aims to achieve at least 10 GW of new and additional renewable energy production capacity by 2020, and to mobilize all partners to develop Africa's potential to produce at least 300 GW by 2030. More details: http://www.arei.org/