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Banjul – Thursday, September 18, 2025 – The 10th Edition of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2025) officially opened today at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Banjul, The Gambia, bringing together policymakers, development partners, industry leaders, and civil society to advance West Africa’s clean energy transformation.
Organized by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of The Gambia, this year’s Forum is held under the theme: “Accelerating Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Solutions for Growth in the ECOWAS Region.”
In his keynote address, H.E. Muhammed B.S. Jallow, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, stated:
“It is an honor for The Gambia to host the 10th edition of ESEF, celebrating a decade of collective strategies and achievements to advance renewable energy. Renewable energy is a key pillar of The Gambia’s development agenda, and these successes would not have been possible without the invaluable support of our partners. I wish all participants a fruitful forum, and I now declare ESEF 2025 officially open.”
Hon. Sir Nani Juwara, Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines of The Gambia, welcomed all participants and highlighted the region’s efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote renewable energy. He expressed gratitude to ECREEE for choosing The Gambia as host of this milestone edition and commended the Centre’s leadership in driving sustainable energy initiatives.
Mr. Francis Sempore, Executive Director of ECREEE, emphasized West Africa’s progress in sustainable energy, noting the growth of grid-connected solar capacity from 5 MW in 2010 to nearly 1 GW in 2025, with a target of 5 GW by 2030. He outlined achievements such as the expansion of mini-grids, the ECOWAS Certification System for Sustainable Energy Skills, and the implementation of regional and national policies. While acknowledging challenges in technology transfer, clean cooking access, and energy efficiency, he reaffirmed ECREEE’s commitment to its 2023–2027 Action Plan and ECOWAS Vision 2050, and expressed gratitude to partners, focal institutions, and sponsors for their support.
In his remarks, Mr. William Zheng, Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Gambia, described the Forum as a vital platform to advance technological innovation and expand access to electricity. He highlighted Huawei’s global achievements in delivering clean and affordable energy solutions and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting improved electricity access across the ECOWAS region.
Mrs. Violeta Insa Sandoval, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Spain to The Gambia, commended ECREEE and its partners for convening such a significant event, emphasizing its importance in accelerating universal access to sustainable energy in the ECOWAS region. She further pledged the Government of Spain’s continued support in advancing this shared vision.
Day One Highlights included:
Ministerial Dialogue: Energy ministers from The Gambia, Cabo Verde, and Sierra Leone, together with the ECOWAS Commission and development partners, discussed strategies to scale up sustainable energy infrastructure for regional growth.
High-Level Session on Energy Efficiency: Representatives from ECREEE, EACREEE, and SACREEE underscored the critical role of energy efficiency in reducing energy poverty and improving livelihoods across Africa.
Special Session on Clean Cooking: Stakeholders explored innovative approaches to expanding access to clean cooking solutions, with a focus on health, environmental, and gender dimensions.
The Forum continues on September 19, 2025, with sessions on powering food systems through clean energy, sustainable mobility, entrepreneurship in off-grid solutions, and the implementation of the ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Strategy.