Consultative meeting on the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE)

A Consultative Meeting on the establishment of the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) took place from 11 to 12 March 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania. It was organized by the EAC Secretariat and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Energy and Environment from the five EAC Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda). The meeting took place against the background of the decisions of the 6th and 7th meetings of the Sectoral Council on Energy to establish EACREEE.

Mr. Turyahabwe Elsam, Project Development Officer, EAC Secretariat, read the opening remarks on bahalf of Dr. Nyamajeje C. Weggoro, EAC Director of Productive Sectors, and welcomed participants to Arusha, Tanzania. The participants were introduced to the proposed design of the Centre. The possible legal status and authorities of the Centre, the roles and composition of its institutional bodies, its organizational chart, the selection process of the host country and the National Focal Institutions (NFIs) were discussed. Finally, the participants commented on the detailed technical activity program of the Centre. Mr. Martin Lugmayr, UNIDO-ECREEE expert, presented the model of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and its added value in the endeavor to establish regional sustainable energy markets.

In the meeting the EAC Partner States indicated strong support to the proposed establishment process and thanked UNIDO for its technical assistance. All EAC Partners States expressed interest to host the Centre. The validation workshop on the final design of the Centre will take place from 6 to 7 May 2013 in Kampala, Uganda. A broad range of key stakeholders will be invited. It is intended that the Centre starts its operation in 2014 at the Dawn of the Decade for Sustainable Energy For All (SE4ALL). Mr. Mahama Kappiah, Executive Director of ECREEE, welcomed the creation of the Centre and expressed his commitment to support the East African Community in the establishment process. "We are looking forward to a strong network of sustainable energy centres to promote the green energy revolution in Africa", he added.   .