EAC-Germany Renewable Energy Technologies Exhibition opens in Arusha
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 25th July, 2018: From 23rd July to 10th August, 2018, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in collaboration with the East African Community is holding an exhibition on renewable energy initiatives.
The 12-day exhibition, also known as Energiewende, which seeks to increase energy efficiency, protect the climate and the environment opened in Arusha at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania on Monday, 23rd July, 2018.
Speaking during the official opening session, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, said the exhibition had come up at a right time and would the increase access to modern energy services in the region, there by reducing poverty and providing sustainable energy for socio-economic development.
Hon. Bazivamo that the exhibition is geared towards achieving the targets of the Regional Strategy on Scaling Up Access to modern Energy Services which provide access to; modern cooking practices for 50% of the population that currently uses traditional cooking fuel; reliable electricity for all urban and peri-urban poor; modern energy services for all schools, clinics, hospitals and community centres and access to mechanical power for heating and productive uses for all communities.
Hon Bazivamo disclosed that the EAC Secretariat was in the process of mobilising funding to: Formulate the Regional Renewable Energy Master plan as well as Regional Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Strategic Plan; Undertake Policy and Standards harmonisation; and Promote information exchange through knowledge management by facilitating the formation of the Regional renewable Energy association.
The Deputy Secretary General extended his appreciation to the GIZ team for making the exhibition a reality, adding that the endeavour was geared towards technology transfer.
On her part, Dr. Kirsten Focken, the GIZ Programme Manager said the German government decided to fully move to renewable energy over 20 years, adding that it was one of the first governments to undertake the initiative.
"We are glad to demonstrate how to move towards secure, affordable and sustainable energy in a highly industrialized country such as Germany. East Africa is developing rapidly and already deploying sources of renewable energy," added Dr.Focken.
She pledged Germany's continued support to the EAC region on renewable energy as a basis for sound and sustainable economic development.
Notes to Editors
The German Government has decided to move towards renewable energy to increase energy efficiency, protect the climate and environment through an initiative known as Energiewende. Energiewende seeks to make energy supply secure, affordable and sustainable. An exhibition organized at the EAC HQ from 23rd July to 10th August, 2018 will present many aspects of Energiewende, its multi-dimensional aspects, challenges, its ambitious targets and precise roadmap that will make the country switch to renewable energy by 2050.
The exhibition has been shown in about 60 locations in 25 different countries. The various stations of the exhibition at EAC HQ will cover: Energy efficiency, heating, mobility, renewable energies, costs for consumer, climate protection, nuclear power, economic aspects, international aspects, electricity grid, security supply, energy storage, civil participation, and the future of energy supply.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified