ReliefWeb

ABU DHABI, 19th September, 2019 (WAM) -- The UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund, UAE-CREF, has announced a partnership to restore power to Barbuda following the near-total destruction of the island after Hurricane Irma struck in September 2017.

Other partners include government of Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation, Transport and Energy, the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NZMFAT.

The agreement will see the disbursement of US$5.7 million from the UAE to support Antigua and Barbuda through the largest renewable energy initiative of its kind in the Caribbean region. However, the UAE-CREF put forth $3.5 million during the first round of funding in 2017, in addition to $700,000 of humanitarian funding the UAE provided to Antigua and Barbuda after Hurricane Irma in 2017.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda also put forth $1 million through the CDF, and the Government of New Zealand donated $500,000 to aid in funding the project and building a hybrid solar-diesel power station equipped with hurricane-resilient battery storage.

The project aims to build a modern, climate-resilient, safe, reliable and sustainable supply of electrical power for Barbuda in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which destroyed 95 percent of the island on 6th September, 2017, and forced all 1,800 residents to be evacuated to Antigua.

The project will be executed by the UAE-CREF in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), responsible for project design and implementation.

Commenting on the partnership, Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs, expressed his contentment with this project, which will contribute to the prosperity of the people of Barbuda. Furthermore, he stressed that this project comes within the framework of the UAE’s efforts to implement projects that serve communities by offering sustainable solutions and supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

"After the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in Barbuda, we are not only trying to restore electricity to the island we will work to rebuild it even better. Providing the island with a solar power plant will solve its energy crisis, provide clean, environmentally friendly energy, and improve the living conditions of islanders who will operate and maintain the new solar power plant to help reduce the impact of climate change," Al Shamsi stated.

For his part, Sir Robin Yearwood, Minister of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation, Transport and Energy of Antigua and Barbuda, thanked all the partners for their contribution to the transformative energy project.

He added, "This project will be a core component of the efforts by our government to transform Barbuda into possibly the first truly climate-resilient community in our region and doing this within a sustainable energy framework. This will also serve as a model for other Caribbean Small Island Developing States."

In turn, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of ADFD, noted, "As part of the second funding cycle of the UAE-CREF, this energy-efficient and multi-faceted project on the island of Barbuda exemplifies the level of collaboration needed to ensure that renewable energy alternatives are spread far and wide to areas or states that can gain maximum benefit. Caribbean island nations are rich in sustainable resources that are used to produce energy. ADFD is delighted to work alongside its distinguished partners to bring clean energy alternatives to the area and support the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in translating its national priorities into tangible realities."

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said that in light of the recent catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Dorian to the northern Bahamas, the hurricane-resistant solar projects that are being developed by UAE-CREF are vital to the Caribbean region. "It is a privilege to support our partners on this extremely important project that will rebuild Barbuda’s electricity system to give the island’s inhabitants access to a reliable and sustainable supply of electrical power."

The plant will displace an estimated 260,000 litres of diesel fuel per year, saving the Government of Antigua and Barbuda $320,000 and offsetting 690 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The project notably supports Barbuda’s green tourism industry.

Rodinald Soomer, CEO of the CDF, said that CDF’s $1 million contributions to this novel power project will be applied towards the solar energy component, in keeping with its 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, which allocates concessional financing towards energy efficiency and renewable energy investments to CARICOM member countries.

"This project is also consistent with the CARICOM Energy Policy, which aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable and clean energy sources to increase diversification and affordability. The CDF’s support for this project also allows it to achieve one of its fundamental aims, as stated in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which is to address the structural diversification and infrastructural development needs of member states. This includes investing in climate-resilient infrastructure," he stated.

"The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is pleased to support this initiative in Antigua and Barbuda. Supporting energy security and climate resilient infrastructure is key to sustainability for small island states in the Caribbean and Pacific. This initiative continues our partnership with the UAE Government in delivering renewable energy projects for small island states and the most vulnerable communities in the Caribbean and Pacific," concluded New Zealand’s Ambassador to the UAE, Matthew Hawkins.

WAM/Rola Alghoul/MOHD AAMIR