By Dominic Hlordzi
A nine-member delegation of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and other State institutions from the Gambia is in Ghana on a study tour.
The members are seeking to tap into Ghana’s experience with innovative financial mechanisms to promote energy efficiency and adoption of climate-friendly refrigerating appliances and air conditioners.
The study tour will assist the Gambia stakeholders to have a practical understanding of the implementation of the minimum energy performance standards and the impact of the financial mechanisms.
The Delegation first visited the Energy Commission, where the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Reverend Oscar Amonoo-Neizers, and his technical team took them through the work of the Commission.
The delegation later paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State at the Energy Ministry, Mr. Herbert Krapa, where they deliberated on energy efficiency, climate change, and related issues.
The Gambia is implementing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project entitled “National Framework for Leapfrogging to Energy Efficient and Climate Friendly Air Conditioners and Refrigerators in The Gambia”.
This project seeks to develop an integrated policy strategy that results in a legislative framework for energy-efficient and climate friendly air conditioners and refrigerators in The Gambia.
The project will catalyse broader market transformation for energy efficiency in The Gambia and will ultimately reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
One of the key outputs under this project is to build capacity of the Policy Working Group Members by undertaking a south-south study tour to one of the West African countries that has implemented a similar policy framework and innovative financial mechanisms to promote energy-efficient and climate-friendly refrigerating appliances and air conditioners.
Ghana’s Energy Commission is responsible for the implementation of the ECOFRIDGES project, an initiative supported by UNEP-U4E.
The ECOFRIDGES aims to accelerate adoption of energy-efficient and climate-friendly domestic refrigerators and room air conditioners, saving consumers money on their electricity bills, relieving demand on the power sector, and mitigating impacts on the environment.
The cornerstone of ECOFRIDGES activities in Ghana is a Green On-Wage (GO) financial mechanism to help make these cooling products more affordable.
