Deputy Minister of Energy 2, Edmond Benjamin Nonie
Deputy Minister of Energy 2, Edmond Benjamin Nonie, is attending the ongoing 40th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
ADIPEC is an annual event that brings together leaders, innovators, and policymakers across the energy sector to explore the energy needs of the world’s growing population and discuss the use of energy solutions to boost economic growth.
At the opening session, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC MD & Group CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber said that for four decades and throughout a fast-evolving energy landscape, the forum had been a catalyst for action, transformation, progress, and real impact. He described the energy sector as the spinal cord of economies, a key driver of prosperity and fundamental to every aspect of human development, while adding that there was a need to deliver more energy with fewer emissions to more people than ever before.
Addressing a high-level panel, Deputy Minister Nonie informed the gathering of Sierra Leone’s recent qualification for the Millenium Challenge Cooperation Grant, which would be invested primarily in the southern corridor transmission line connecting the capital city and other parts of the country. He discussed the Airborne Electro Magnetic Survey carried out in 2019, adding that the report had provided a clear view of the minerals available in the country, including minerals needed for renewable energy products like solar panels and batteries.
The Deputy Minister also spoke of the West Africa Power Pool Project, describing it as a great example of success in terms of regional trade and the Africa Free Trade Agreement. He said that Sierra Leone was looking for partnerships in its energy and critical minerals.
The Deputy Minister also participated at a Ministerial Roundtable hosted by H.E Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and HRH Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy for Saudi Arabia. The Ministerial Roundtable was also attended by H.E., the Secretary General of OPEC, and Ministers of Energy from Ghana and Uganda.
In the next couple of days, Deputy Minister Nonie is also expected to further his engagements with a focus on wooing investment for Sierra Leone’s energy sector.
