Renewable Energy: MASEN, AfDB Join Forces to Implement ‘Desert to Power’ Initiative in Africa

Johannesburg – Chairman of the executive Board of the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN), Mustapha Bakkoury, and president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Akinwumi Adesina, inked, Wednesday in Johannesburg, a Letter of Intent endorsing a new cooperation under the “Desert to Power” program.

The objective of this partnership, signed within the framework of the African Investment Forum, which is being held at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, is to support African countries, particularly those in the Sahel region targeted by “Desert to Power”, in terms of developing renewable energy technologies best suited to their natural conditions and specific energy needs, says a joint statement received by MAP-Johannesburg.

The aim is to combine MASEN’s expertise in the development of renewable energy projects with the AfDB’s operational experience in this sector, particularly in terms of sharing know-how, capacity building and experience, technical assistance, development of renewable energy projects and mobilization of the necessary resources.

“Sharing the experience developed by MASEN and setting in motion a process of competitive development of renewable energy on the African continent is to aim to make renewable energy a real lever for inclusive growth,” Bakkoury said, stressing that this partnership with the AfDB “is a definite asset to achieve this ambition.”

For his part, the AfDB Group president stressed that Morocco remains “an example” in the field of renewable energy.

Adesina said he is “impressed” by the Noor Ouarzazate solar power plant, which, he said, “was made with Moroccan capabilities”. This station, in which the Bank has invested heavily, is “proof that Africa can achieve great things of international scope.”