12 Mars 2023
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, March 8 (Infosplusgabon) – The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has approved a technical assistance grant of $5.03 million to implement the Acceleration Program for super energy service companies (ESCOs) in Africa (ASAP) in three countries: Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa. Super ESCOs are vehicles to channel funds into energy efficiency investments in the public sector, such as hospitals, schools and public lighting, thus laying the foundation for subsequent private investment in the sectors. commercial and industrial.
The main objective of ASAP is to catalyze private sector investment in energy efficiency by establishing and operationalizing super-ESCOs, to improve the efficiency and quality of electricity supply, promote energy conservation and stimulate the transition to more sustainable and greener economies.
The awarded grant will support the training of a specialized team to operate as Super ESCOs in each selected country and will help private ESCOs in participating countries to develop their energy performance contracting services. It will also support the development of harmonized regional certification systems for ESCOs and energy service professionals, in particular energy auditors, energy managers and energy savings measurement and verification professionals.
“This innovative program will allow Senegal to create its Super ESCO and to stimulate the energy efficiency market in order to improve energy performance in the public and private sectors” said Mr. Saer DIOP the Director-General of the Agency for Senegalese Energy Economy and Control (AEME).
“Super ESCOs are seen as an effective tool that governments can leverage to mobilize private sector resources to improve the energy efficiency of public facilities and other key energy consuming sectors and, in this context, I am happy that Senegal is one of the first countries to benefit from the Acceleration Program for African Energy Services Super-Enterprises (ASAP)” said Mr. Mohamed Chérif, Country Manager of Senegal at the African Bank. of development.
ASAP paves the way for the successful implementation of downstream energy efficiency investment programs, in which the African Development Bank, the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa and other partners will invest. Distributed by APO Group for African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three separate entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Present in 34 African countries and with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states.
SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic financing to unlock private sector investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional financing instruments to remove market barriers, build a stronger project pipeline and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The main objective of the Fund is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and Sustainable Development Goal No. 7.
FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/UGH/GABON2023
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