South africa: The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), took part in the African Energy Week held in South Africa. Heading the UAE delegation was Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI.
According to Emirates News Agency, in his opening speech, Al Olama underscored the necessity of enhancing international cooperation to meet energy transition objectives, emphasizing the UAE’s leading role in supporting global sustainability efforts. He introduced the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA), an initiative launched by the UAE, which aims to boost the rate of energy efficiency improvement to over 4 percent annually by 2030.
Al Olama extended an invitation to African nations and energy companies to join the alliance. He highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange, the acceleration of the transition to clean energy, and the unification of global efforts to enhance energy efficiency. These efforts are intended to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future worldwide.
Additionally, Al Olama stated, “GEEA reflects the UAE’s commitment to placing energy efficiency at the forefront of the global energy and climate agenda.” On the sidelines of the conference, he engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with several African energy ministers and officials, including Birame Soul¨ye DIOP, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum, and Mines. These discussions focused on exploring collaboration opportunities, presenting UAE’s initiatives in energy efficiency and sustainability, and encouraging more African countries to join the GEEA.