By Alfred ZachariaThe 15th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was officially inaugurated in Abu Dhabi, UAE, by Dr. Jimmy Gasore, the outgoing President of the 14th IRENA Assembly and Rwanda's Minister of Infrastructure.
In his address, Dr. Gasore urged IRENA member states to expedite the implementation of renewable energy projects that are environmentally friendly, highlighting their critical role in advancing sustainable development and improving energy access across member countries.
He emphasized that renewable energy projects are key to addressing climate change by reducing carbon emissions while fostering environmental preservation.
Taking over the presidency of the 15th IRENA Assembly, Slovenia's Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Energy, Bojan Kumer, called for the adoption of strong policies to drive the execution of renewable energy initiatives.
He also stressed the importance of engaging citizens in the implementation of these projects, noting that renewable energy solutions are not only eco-friendly but also cost-effective compared to traditional energy sources.
The assembly, which attracted over 2,000 participants, included representatives from IRENA member states, private sector stakeholders, and energy-related companies.
During the meeting, Slovenia was elected as the President of the 15th Assembly, with Namibia as Vice President.
Additional council representatives were chosen from Costa Rica, the UAE, Turkey, and other countries representing different continents.
Tanzania was represented by Dr. Khatibu Kazungu, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Electricity and Renewable Energy in the Ministry of Energy.
He was accompanied by Costa Rubagumya, TANESCO’s Deputy Managing Director for Generation; Imani Mruma, Assistant Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy; Samwel Kessy, TANESCO Research Manager; and Mkufu Tindi, Geothermal Development Company Research Manager.
