India, UK pledge support for Ghana’s clean energy transition

India and the United Kingdom have pledged their support for Ghana’s transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy as part of global climate commitments.

The two countries said UK and Indian companies were open to partner with Ghanaian innovators in the energy sector to rollout products and services to promote sustainable and efficient energy solutions.

Mr Shri Manish Gupta, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, and Mrs Harriet Thompson, the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, made the commitment at the opening of the 3rd Power and Energy Ghana Expo and Exhibition in Accra on Wednesday.

The three-day event will assemble 100 exhibitors and about 1000 professionals worldwide to display their innovations in the energy sector and discuss measures to scale-up renewable energy and address demand and supply issues in the sector.

The expo is being organised by BIG4SURE events with Wegvoraus Exhibitions, under the auspices of Ministry of Energy with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

As the world races to transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy, Ghana has developed a National Energy Transition Framework (2022-2070) to decarbonise the energy sector.

The country has set out an ambitious target of 2070 to fully transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Ghana’s Ministry of Energy estimates that the implementation of the plan would cost the country about US$561.8 billion in the next five decades.

Mr Gupta said power and energy were stepping to the development of nations and that efficient and sustainable energy systems were crucial for Ghana’s economic development.

He said India had enormous expertise energy solutions and was willing to share ideas with Ghana and build partnerships towards achieving reliable, efficient, and affordable energy.

“Energy is one sector that is going to play a fast forwarded and important role in Ghana and build the economy,” Mr Gupta said.

Mrs Thompson said the UK was committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050, adding that the country had built expertise in renewable energy solutions particularly in battery storage solutions.

She said Ghana had an important role to play in global energy transition following the discovery of lithium – an important raw material for the production of electric car batteries and other products.

“I look forward to further partnerships in clean energy transitions, driving trade, growth and supporting a cleaner planet for future generations,” Mrs Thompson said.

Mrs Wilhemina Asamoah, Chief Director, Ministry of Energy, said Ghana was on course to achieving sustainable and modern energy access by 2030.

She said about 85 per cent of the citizenry had access to electricity, adding that the Ministry was exploring solar energy solutions to increase electricity access in remote communities.

“The Ministry of Energy has launched policies to increase renewable energy share to at least 10 per cent of our total energy mix by 2030,” Mrs Asamoah said.

Dr Joseph Obeng, President, Ghana Union of Traders Association, appealed to stakeholders in the sector to patronise the exhibition and called for deepened sensitisation of the public on energy efficiency.

Source: GNA

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