Aslam calls to provide greater opportunities for private sector in renewable energy development

Minister Mohamed Aslam in his keynote address at the opening session of Third Solar Energy Forum calls the international and financial institutions to consider providing greater opportunities to enable private sector participation in the renewable energy development. Minister further elaborated on the challenges faced in the investments in the renewable energy sector and stressed on the importance of speedy removal of barriers in such investments.

Minister Aslam highlighted the efforts of the Government of the Maldives towards carbon neutrality including technical works completed such as the development of the national energy policy and strategy, carbon audit, photo-voltaic feasibility studies, framework for energy investments and structural changes such as the recent establishment of a new renewable energy investment office under the Ministry of Economic Development in the Maldives.

Minister congratulated the efforts of ADB to promote solar energy production in the Asia Pacific region and urged speedy implementation of the renewable energy projects in the region with a view to eliminate or reduce fossil fuel dependency in the production of energy.

A senior delegation including Technology Advisor to the President Mr. Ahmed Shafeeg Moosa and senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Environment are attending the two day conference held in Bangkok.

The Asia Solar Energy Initiative was launched by Asian Development Bank on 3 rd May 2010 aiming to create a virtuous cycle of solar energy investments in the region. ADB is aiming to assist the implementation of 3000 MW of solar power in the Asia and the Pacific.
Over 300 delegates are attending the Third Meeting of the Solar energy Forum. The meeting will focus on developing bankable projects for the Asia Pacific region offering insights from existing projects and those under development.