African Energy Chamber puts spotlight on renewable energy
The African Energy Chamber has said it will present a webinar focused on the renewable energy sector.
It said the COVID-19 pandemic had had significant impacts on the growth and development of the energy sector.
The chamber noted that a recent study released by the International Energy Agency concluded that the world was heading towards seeing a decrease in the development of wind turbines, solar power plants and other renewable energy installations.
It said in a statement on Tuesday that the webinar, slated for May 28, would be guided by the question: ‘Is now the time for renewable energy?’
The Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk, said the global pandemic, coupled with the low oil price, was encouraging many countries to relook at their energy mixes and energy transition plans in line with the current global environment.
He said, “With each day, there are new complexities in planning energy transitions that will not jeopardise government’s long-term energy strategies.
“While we may naturally want to look into solutions such as small scale nuclear reactors, wind, solar and hydro, we are unfortunately, faced with immense challenges presented by restrictions aiming at fighting the pandemic as the first step.”
Ayuk said, through the webinar, the chamber hoped to provide insight on the ideal way, specifically for African countries, to plan ahead despite the challenges.
According to the statement, the conversation will feature contributions from the Chairperson of Matleng Energy Solutions, Nelisiwe Magubane; Suzanne Jaworowski, Senior Advisor of Policy & Communications at the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, and the General Manager Lekela Power Senegal, Massaer Cisse.
