The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has launched a two-year renewable energy training programme for Pacific Island countries
Financed by Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the training is being led by Masdar, Abu Dhabi?s renewable energy company. The capacity-building initiative falls within the framework of the ADFD-funded US$50mn UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund (UAE-PPF).
Masdar is managing the training programme in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific in Fiji and two green energy consultancy companies, New Zealand?s Elemental Power and Renewables and Australia?s ITP Renewables.
The first workshop in Fiji?s Suva in October 2017 received 25 representatives of the 11 Pacific Island countries that have implemented renewable energy projects through the UAE-PPF. The countries included Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau, Kiribati, Nauru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
At the second workshop during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January 2017, the decision makers and senior executives from the beneficiary countries are expected to receive high-level training. The third session, which is set for October 2018, will cater to project and technical managers will be responsible for utility operations and renewable energy project planning in the Pacific region.
Ali Al Shafar, the UAE's permanent representative to the international renewable energy agency at IRENA, said, ?The new training programme leverages both regional and international expertise to keep the momentum up on planning and executing transformative projects that support the UN?s Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris climate agreement.?
Khaled Ballaith, director of special projects at Masdar, explained, ?Based on tangible project experience in the Pacific, the new training programme aims to share lessons and to provide delegates from the island nations with more knowledge and insight.?
Adel Al Hosani, director of operations at ADFD, noted, ?This training programme seeks to assist Pacific Island countries in unlocking their wind and solar potential to drive energy security, job creation and socio-economic development.?
