Iceland’s Minister of Industry Össur Skarphédinsson and Djibouti’s Minister of Energy Mohamed Ali Mohamed signed an agreement on energy cooperation at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Abu Dhabi will support their cooperation.
Furthermore, Reykjavík Energy Invest (REI) and Djibouti’s energy authorities signed a declaration, announcing their plans to provide Djibouti with cheaper and greener energy, Morgunbladid reports.
Today, Djibouti produces its electricity with diesel engines, but REI believes the country could cover its energy needs by harnessing geothermal energy instead.
Presidents of both countries, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson from Iceland and Ismail Omar Guelleh from Djibouti, were present when the declaration was signed. A statement issued by Iceland’s presidential office said if this cooperation proves successful, Djibouti could become a leading African nation in the field of clean energy usage.
The World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi is attended by about 3,000 representatives of nations from around the world, heads of state, ministers, business leaders and scientists.
Grímsson said in his speech during the opening of the summit yesterday that he celebrated the fact that Abu Dhabi is interested in supporting the cooperation between Iceland and Djibouti.
The three small nations could thus prove to the world how important an initiative like this is in terms of future energy and thus set an example for other nations, Iceland’s president concluded.
