Abu Dhabi hosts Africa meeting on renewable energy & India calls for cooperation with Africa

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Abu Dhabi hosts Africa meeting on renewable energy

By MICHAEL CASEY, AP Environmental Writer

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — African governments should consider investing in renewable energies like wind, solar and hydro power to help feed the continent's growing energy demands and combat threats of climate change, the head of a new international energy agency said Friday.

Adnan Amin also told nearly 30 African energy and foreign affairs ministers at the start of a two-day meeting that the key to ramping up renewable energy deployment was for countries to develop regulatory framework needed to convince institutional investors it's safe to put their money into these cutting edge technologies.

"If Africa continues to grow at pace it is growing and intensifies that growth and uses only carbon-emitting forms of energy, it will exponentially change the picture on climate change and make it much worse," said Amin, a Kenyan who is director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

"We need right now to start making the kinds of investment that will lead Africa on a very different path," he said.

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/india-calls-for-cooperation-with-africa-in-solar-energy/articleshow/9150935.cms

8 Jul, 2011, 05.38PM IST,ET Bureau

India calls for cooperation with Africa in solar energy

NEW DELHI: India has offered to expand and strengthen its cooperation with the African countries in the field of Renewable Energy.

"India is already assisting African countries for electrification of villages through solar energy and aims to set up 40 solar charging stations and 40 biomass gasifiers," said Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy. He was speaking at the IRENA-Africa High Level Consultative Forum meeting in Abu Dhabi on Accelerating Renewable Energy Uptake for Africa's Sustainable Development

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In the recently concluded 2nd Africa-India Forum Summit held at Addis Ababa, Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh had announced an offer of 5 billion US dollars for the next three years under lines of credit and 700 million US dollars as assistance to help Africa achieve its development goals. As part of these efforts, Dr. Abdullah announced over 250 training positions on Rural Electrification, Small Hydropower, Solar Energy and Wind energy for African learners and professionals.

He also outlined India's success in providing energy access through decentralized energy sources and explained how small stand alone solar and biomass based systems are being used to provide energy to some of the farthest and remotest corners of India.

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