Renewable and sustainable energy: Bring light, bring life...

The government of Djibouti is committed to providing the population with sustainable, abundant, diversified energy at a lower cost. With the help of its partners like the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility, a multitude of projects are being implemented in order to concretize in the near future the use of 100% green energy and thus respond to SDG7 which aims guarantee access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy.

The objective for Sustainable Development (SDG7) is to guarantee access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. In the case of Djibouti, the government is very committed to increasing renewable and sustainable energy in the general energy supply. The fact that the government imports hydroelectricity from Ethiopia, the development of geothermal energy and investments in solar energy technology shows that Djibouti supports Goal 7.

Renewable energy is a form of sustainable energy and with new technological advances, renewable energy has the potential to be the main source of energy to support development and the national economy. Take the example of rural areas where the national main network has not yet been put in place. For a country like Djibouti where the sun shines a lot, the production of solar energy is very good. There are villages that are not connected to the grid but still have access to the energy provided by solar panels.

UNDP is working with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Urban Planning, the Environment and Tourism to promote the use of renewable energy in Djibouti.

As required, solar panels can be installed even to operate small businesses, household power, health centers and schools. UNDP supported the community of 700 families in Damerjog by providing individual solar home systems, transforming their lives overnight.

The lives of families who lived in the dark and children who couldn't finish their homework or had to study by candlelight were transformed when household solar systems brought in light, the fan, the phone chargers and television in their homes. “This project brought us light and gave us life. We can now buy, sell, play and watch TV. In the evening we are happy Alhamd li Allah ", enthuses one of the women beneficiaries of this project. With another project funded by the Danish government, the UNDP, in partnership with ONARS, under the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior, responded to the urgent needs of this community in terms of access to energy and services. Basic audiences. UNDP is helping the government of Djibouti install a mini solar network to help electrify a village of 100 homes and support an additional electrification program for small businesses and schools.

"With all these actions, we will help the government of Djibouti to achieve its SDG 7 objectives and to honor its recent commitment to join the global initiative" Renewable energy for all "and to respect its commitment to the Paris agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Without access to energy, people's livelihood and standard of living options are limited, "said Fatima Elsheikh, UNDP resident representative in Djibouti.

On his side the secretary general of the ministry of energy and natural resources

Mr. Mohamed Kileh Waïs, he told us that a certain number of efforts are being made by the government of Djibouti through the ministry of energy. The first component is implemented by ESD as part of the sustainable development project funded by the World Bank. "We plan to make electricity accessible to all low-income households located in peri-urban but also rural areas. This is the case for Nassib homes which will be connected for free. More than 400 homes will benefit from this initiative as part of the sustainable development project, which will pay for connection and installation costs, "he said. Before adding: "Our priority is to make energy abundant that is to say to diversify the sources of energy and to use the cheapest and most sustainable, namely wind turbines, solar and geothermal energy. It should be noted that all of these sources are available in Djibouti. As for solar, the sun is abundant in Djibouti throughout the year. Also, with regard to the wind turbine, there are very interesting sites, notably in Goubet, a 60 MW project of which is currently being carried out. At Grand Bara with the French company Engie, specialized in energy production, a 30 MW solar power plant. "We want to make available to the Djiboutians an abundant energy obtained at a lower cost and accessible to all. ", He concluded.

The Ministry of Urban Planning, Environment and Tourism (MUET) also works in the field of renewable energies in Djibouti. According to Mr.Dini Abdallah Omar, secretary general of this department, MUET with funding from the Global Environment Facility has equipped 100 homes with solar panels in the village of Moumina located at Lake Assal. MUET also supports the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources for the establishment of a legal framework for the development of renewable energies in Djibouti.

It should be noted that the Republic of Djibouti intends in the near future to use 100% green energy.

Recall that the seventh SDG is at the center of the major challenges of today in the world but also of the opportunities of tomorrow. Whether it is fighting climate change of course, but also developing jobs, housing, connections, security, food production, etc., everyone's access to sustainable energy is essential.

This SDG is undoubtedly an opportunity to transform lives, economies and the planet.

Djibouti is now focusing mainly on geothermal energy to initiate its energy transition, without forgetting its immense solar potential.

Kenedid Ibrahim