The East African Community is set to launch a centre for renewable energy and energy efficiency, this was according to Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Hon. Jesca Eriyo.
The Deputy Secretary General told a meeting of EAC Energy ministers in Arusha, Tanzania, Friday the feasibility study and project documents for the establishment of the EAC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency had been completed.
Hon. Eriyo informed the ministerial session of the 8th Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council on Energy that the Austrian Government had committed one million euros towards the establishment of the centre, which she said would be instrumental in advancing the development of renewable energy in the region.
She added the project would also provide a channel for implementing energy efficiency programmes and thus called for its expeditious approval.
The meeting also discussed the East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition, selecting Rwanda as the host for the seventh edition of the event due in 2015, while the ministers directed the EAC Secretariat to develop a concept paper on establishing an energy fund as a window under the EAC Development Fund.
Other matters the meeting discussed included the establishment of the East African Community Power Pool (EACPP); new and renewable sources of energy and energy conservation and efficiency; the Regional Clean Energy Programme; and the Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP) programme.
In attendance were Hon. Irene Muloni, Uganda’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Development and chairperson of the sectoral council; Hon. Come Manirakiza, Minister for Energy and Mines (Burundi); Hon. Emma Francoise Isumbingabo, Minister of State for Water and Energy (Rwanda); Hon. George Simbachawene, Deputy Minister of Energy and Minerals (United Republic of Tanzania) and Mr. Davis Chirchir, Cabinet Secretary for Energy & Petroleum (Kenya).
