PURA, NEDI Sign Renewable Energy Project

The Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) and the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding at the PURA Conference room aiming to introduce renewable energy in businesses across the country.

The project between the two sister institutions was the culmination of a series of efforts from both the authority and NEDI towards key programmes aimed at streamlining youth and women participation in productive sectors in the country.

The US$100,000 project dubbed ‘’Youth and Women Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Fund’’ is going to last for 18 months. It started in March 2017 and will end in September 2018.

 The Director General of PURA, Ansumana Sanneh, speaking at the signing ceremony, said the project would promote youth employment, especially graduate youth from vocational training colleges, entrepreneurship through ownership of renewable businesses and overcome financial barriers.

‘’PURA through the renewable energy fund were contracted by GEF/UNIDO to set up Women and Youth Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Fund aimed at the introduction of Renewable Energy in their business,’’ he said.

Mr Sanneh said in addition to the grant financing provided to the worthy beneficiaries, there would also be training on both the business and technical aspects of the projects conducted.

‘’NEDI becomes a key partner in this endeavor to ensure that the necessary skills are transferred to beneficiaries for long-term sustainability’’.

Mr Sanneh acknowledged the collaborative partnership and support from GEF/UNIDO.

The Director General of NEDI, Buba Touray, said the project was one of many that NEDI was undertaking with other companies to improve the use of renewable energy in The Gambia.

The Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, in partnership with GEF/UNIDO, will focus on productive sectors of the Gambian economy like agriculture, poultry and ICT.