PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Gambia: ECOWAS, Israel sign US$1 billion agreement for power projects
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – The sub-regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Israel on Friday signed an agreement to the tune of US$1 billion for power projects across ECOWAS member states.
A statement from ECOWAS disclosed that the signing ceremony which was held in Liberia would lead to the development of green energy power projects across the 15 member states in West Africa.
Yosef I. Abramowitz, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an Israeli power developer, Energiya Global, said that in honor of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s two terms in office and Liberia’s friendship with the State of Israel, they would finance and build a commercial-scale solar field at the Roberts International Airport, which would supply 25% of Liberia’s generation capacity.
“We are prepared to finance and build the first National Demonstration Solar Projects in all ECOWAS-affiliated countries in order to promote political stability and social and economic development, as well as to advance knowledge transfer.”
According to the statement, Energiya Global and its associated companies developed the first commercial scale solar field in sub-Sahara Africa in Rwanda, which is supplying 6% of the country’s power and the group broke ground on a similar power plant in Burundi, which will supply 15% of the country’s power by the end of the year.
The solar group has fields at various stages of development in 10 African countries and expects to announce its full program at the Israel-Africa Summit in Togo at the end of October.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the 15 West African heads of state as well as the head of the African Union during the ongoing ECOWAS summit in Liberia.
He would speak on “Israel is coming back to Africa,” and outline the technological innovations in agriculture, water, green energy and more that can support economic development in West Africa.
A working session between ECOWAS, representatives of the State of Israel and Abramowitz will take place Monday morning in Monrovia, to plan for the deployment of the green energy investments in fulfillment of the memorandum of understanding signed by Prime Minister Netanyahu and the President of ECOWAS.
-0- PANA MLJ/VAO 3June 2017
A statement from ECOWAS disclosed that the signing ceremony which was held in Liberia would lead to the development of green energy power projects across the 15 member states in West Africa.
Yosef I. Abramowitz, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an Israeli power developer, Energiya Global, said that in honor of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s two terms in office and Liberia’s friendship with the State of Israel, they would finance and build a commercial-scale solar field at the Roberts International Airport, which would supply 25% of Liberia’s generation capacity.
“We are prepared to finance and build the first National Demonstration Solar Projects in all ECOWAS-affiliated countries in order to promote political stability and social and economic development, as well as to advance knowledge transfer.”
According to the statement, Energiya Global and its associated companies developed the first commercial scale solar field in sub-Sahara Africa in Rwanda, which is supplying 6% of the country’s power and the group broke ground on a similar power plant in Burundi, which will supply 15% of the country’s power by the end of the year.
The solar group has fields at various stages of development in 10 African countries and expects to announce its full program at the Israel-Africa Summit in Togo at the end of October.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the 15 West African heads of state as well as the head of the African Union during the ongoing ECOWAS summit in Liberia.
He would speak on “Israel is coming back to Africa,” and outline the technological innovations in agriculture, water, green energy and more that can support economic development in West Africa.
A working session between ECOWAS, representatives of the State of Israel and Abramowitz will take place Monday morning in Monrovia, to plan for the deployment of the green energy investments in fulfillment of the memorandum of understanding signed by Prime Minister Netanyahu and the President of ECOWAS.
-0- PANA MLJ/VAO 3June 2017
