Delegates from Sierra Leone’s government are attending the current Africa Oil Week at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
During the event, which aimed to discuss methods of transitioning from fossil fuel to renewable energy, H.E Wamkele Keabetswe, Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade, AfCFT, stated that Africa must work hard to accelerate its industrialization so that its trade activities focus on value added production. He emphasised the importance of a dependable energy source to support the continent’s modernization effort. He went on to say that in order for the African market to become competitive on a regional and global scale, there needed to be energization.
He stated that the AfCFT sought to lay the groundwork for equitable and fair energy production and distribution across the African continent, as well as to provide an opportunity for energy trade to take place in accordance with regulations, and emphasised that they were looking forward to energy being the pillar that drives industrialization within the region.
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr. Eldred Tunde Taylor, told a high-level Ministerial Symposium that the country has increased its energy access through a variety of legislative frameworks. He also stated that his country was a participant in the continuing CLSG initiative, which would help countries in the subregion. Dr. Taylor also mentioned key reforms already undertaken in the energy sector to encourage private sector investment.
“Private capital investment in the energy field is vital, and as a result, we have encouraged a large number of private companies to enter and participate in that space.” “We are offering incentives to our private sector and have established large provisions for duty exemptions in order to stimulate the increase of our country’s energy access rate,” he added.
Madam Francess Piagie Alghali, Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office, stated that the delegation will utilise the three-day Summit to highlight Sierra Leone’s mineral, oil and gas, and energy potentials.
Musa Timothy Kabba, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, and Raif Badawi, Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, were also present at the occasion.
