The President of the Republic, Mr Danny Faure, returned from his first World Future Energy Summit (WFES) yesterday, which was held in Abu Dhabi from the 16th to the 19th January. The WFES, part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, is the world’s most influential event dedicated to advancing the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean technology and saw Heads of State gather from all over the world.

On the margins of WFES, the President had the opportunity to hold a bilateral meeting with the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The two leaders discussed ongoing cooperation in the fields of renewable energy, housing, and the health sector to further benefit Seychelles.

Seychelles also received funding of US$8.5 million for a new solar panel farm from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) based in Abu Dhabi during the Sustainability Week. President Faure expressed his profound gratitude that Seychelles was chosen out of 79 participating countries. “This demonstrates that Seychelles is on the right path in terms of sustainable development, but it is also clear that we need to move faster as a nation with the implementation of renewable energy. We will review and adjust our country’s original target of achieving 15% of renewable energy contribution by 2030 – we can do more. Technology is moving fast, and the country needs to keep up with the same pace,” said the President. The other three countries which will also benefit from the fund are Niger, the Marshall Islands and the Solomon Islands.

The President also attended the award ceremony for the Zayed Future Energy Prize and had the honour to present the award for the African continent in the global high schools category. The award was received by Starehe Girls’ Centre in Kenya which was awarded US$100,000 for looking at ways to educate their peers and the community in how to harness clean energy and use it to help the country develop. The President expressed his wish that both public and private schools of Seychelles continue to participate in the annual event and receive similar recognition one day.