|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Recommendations on Achieving Sustainable Hydropower Development in Africa Announced
Press Release - Friday 1st April 2011, Addis Ababa
Hydropower for Sustainable Development 2011 concluded today with the presentation by Dr Joseph Atta-Mensah, Director of Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division at the Economic Commission for Africa, of the Hydropower for Sustainable Development 2011 Conference Ministerial Recommendations, and the announcement that the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) has become a member of the International Hydropower Association (IHA), and an IHA Sustainability Partner.
“EEPCo has been privileged to welcome so many hydropower stakeholders and other valued participants to Hydropower for Sustainable Development 2011, paving the way for successfully harnessing Ethiopia’s hydropower potential. EEPCo is also very pleased to be collaborating with the International Hydropower Association by becoming a Sustainability Partner and member, and looks forward to sharing knowledge, experience and understanding through this partnership.” Mr Mihiret Debebe, CEO, Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo).
Offering a vote of thanks to guest of honour His Excellency Mr Meles Zenawi Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and chairperson of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee, for taking the initiative to organise and host the conference and deliver the keynote address, the Recommendations recognise the major benefits of hydropower at the local and regional level as a source of renewable energy and a multipurpose tool for poverty alleviation.
Providing practical guidance on achieving sustainable hydropower development in Africa, the Recommendations address four areas: Encouraging Regional Development, Enabling Finance and Investment, Advancing the Role of Hydropower and Delivering Sustainable Hydropower.
In order to deliver sustainable hydropower, the Recommendations encourage the use of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol to guide and evaluate hydropower project development, and in the interests of capacity building, establish in Ethiopia a continental centre of excellence on sustainable hydropower development.
The Recommendations call for further emphasis to be put on coordinated and harmonised regional development, existing initiatives to be given the impetus to accelerate progress from the point of view of river-basin and continental initiatives, power pools and regional economic communities to be strengthened, and encourages environmental conservation to be taken into account when undertaking regional development projects.
Under Enabling Finance & Investment, the Recommendations recognise the need to increase the role of the private sector in hydropower development, and call for the differentiated roles of the public and private sectors to be well defined and utilised, and for the capacity of the utilities in developing bankable projects to be enhanced.
Stating that there is a need for innovation in the structuring of financing, the Recommendations advocate for the realities of regional hydropower development to be taken into account, including the high capital costs, long development lead times and long operational lives.
The Recommendations call for the role of hydropower to be further advanced by:
• Catalyzing improvements in water security and management
• Nurturing the development of multi-purpose water infrastructure and use
• Strengthening and expanding regional power transmission systems
• Promoting and utilising knowledge on climate-change mitigation and adaptation
• Ensuring that project impact assessment and related management plans are responsibly implemented
• Encouraging an appropriate approach among riparian states and strengthening relations between them
• Prioritising the delivery of benefits to affected communities
• Promoting the distribution of water and energy services to local areas
As an IHA Sustainability Partner, EEPCo will participate in a three year process offering a unique opportunity to demonstrate sustainability in the hydropower sector.
“We are honoured to be working with EEPCo as a Sustainability Partner and look forward to learning from each other in this process” Richard Taylor, Executive Director, International Hydropower Association
EEPCo Staff will receive in-house training on the application of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, a sustainability assessment tool being used to measure and guide performance in the hydropower sector.
Within the first 18 months of becoming a Sustainability Partner a supported unofficial assessment will be conducted on a selected project or facility. This will enable EEPCo staff to conduct further internal Protocol assessments, prepare for official assessments, understand and address project sustainability weaknesses and strengths, and to enable the incorporation of structural sustainability criteria into management and reporting systems.
Over the next three years, third parties will become accredited and licensed to conduct official Protocol assessments. Official assessments may be used for a variety of purposes, from obtaining finance to providing proof of sustainability performance.
By becoming a Sustainability Partner, EEPCo, as an early adopter, will gain a significant competitive advantage through their knowledge, experience and understanding of Protocol implementation.
Hydropower for Sustainable Development 2011 was attended by water and energy Ministries and specialists from 32 countries, as well as by representatives of the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), regional power pools, regional economic communities, African specialised institutions and river-basin initiatives, together with participants from bilateral and multilateral financing agencies, academia, industry and civil society.
ENDS
***
Press enquiries:
Ms Sophia Denekews
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Tel: +251 11 544 5098
Ms Christiane Yanrou
African Union Commission
Tel: +251 911 20 16 34
Thor Windham-Wright
International Hydropower Association
Tel: +44 208 652 5294
***
About IHA
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) was founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1995 under the auspices of UNESCO. Today, it has members active in more than 80 countries. Its mission is to advance sustainable hydropower’s role in meeting the World’s water and energy needs by: championing continuous improvement and sustainable practices; building consensus through strong partnerships with other stakeholders; and, driving initiatives to increase the contribution of renewables. IHA is a founding partner of the International Renewable Energy Alliance, and is honoured to work alongside the world’s leading associations for bio, geothermal, solar and wind energies. IHA’s Central Office is in London, UK.
| 
