The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), in collaboration with WASCAL, has organised a two-day regional workshop to kick start the development of the strategy and action plans 2023-2030 and 2031-2050 of the ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Policy.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from governments, the private sector, and international organizations, with the objective to validate the methodology for developing the strategy and related action plans.
The ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Infrastructures, Energy, and Digitalisation, Mr. Sediko Douka, lauded the fruitful and strong collaboration between WASCAL and ECOWAS and conveyed his deepest gratitude to the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for the financial support in development of the Green Hydrogen Policy.
‘’A special mention goes to BMBF for its financial support to the West African region, through ECOWAS, and ECREEE in particular, in its quest for solutions to address critical energy, environmental, and economic challenges in the region,’’ he spoke.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Bruno Korgo, Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Coordinator at WASCAL, recalled the development of the Green Hydrogen Policy as a collective success story, thanks to the fruitful partnership between WASCAL and ECREEE. He called for the invaluable support of governments, international organisations, and private sectors to facilitate the transformative process of the policy into concrete actions.
‘’We still hope to benefit from your support as we write this new page in the development of the policy. This kick-off for the Development of the Strategy and Action Plans is crucial for the region as it will help unlock the full potential of green hydrogen in the region and drive economic growth, enhance energy security, and contribute significantly to global efforts in combating climate change’’. He said.
He added that WASCAL is already involved in the transition to green hydrogen through pilot projects in countries such as Burkina Faso, Ghana, the Gambia, and Togo, the International Master’s Programme in Green Hydrogen, not forgetting the H2 Atlas of green hydrogen generation potentials in Africa.
In March 2023, the ECOWAS Energy Ministers adopted the ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Policy and Strategy Framework, which aims to harness the potential and with the strategic vision of positioning the region as one of the most competitive producers and suppliers of green hydrogen and its derivatives while addressing socio-economic growth and sustainable development of all member states. The Policy was subsequently adopted by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in July 2023.
