Launch of the South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) in the Maldives
SAREP arrives in Maldives!
The Maldives chapter of the South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) program was launched on Tuesday, 6 August 2024, in the esteemed presence of senior leadership from the Maldives Government, USAID India, Sri Lanka and Washington. USAID’s SAREP program will focus on developing partnerships and leveraging technical advancements to address Maldives’ energy challenges.
The program aims to provide technical assistance to improve regulatory environments, modernize utility services, and build capacity for energy sector professionals. The SAREP program will also help expand the Maldivian government’s ongoing standards and labeling initiative to include water heating, water pumps and ceiling fans. The initiative aims to improve energy efficiency by helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
The launch event commenced with a welcome address by Gabriel Grau, Mission Director for USAID/Sri Lanka & Maldives. Grau emphasized the need for regional collaboration and highlighted Maldives’ potential to successfully address climate change challenges with the support of the SAREP program. This was followed by a short video providing an overview of the USAID’s SAREP program.
The inaugural address was delivered by H.E. Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Republic of Maldives. He stressed the importance of demand-side management initiatives and the efficacy of Maldives’ star rating program for energy efficiency. The Minister expressed satisfaction that this program would gain further momentum with support from the SAREP program. He further highlighted Maldives’ target to meet 33% of the nation’s electricity needs from renewable sources within the next five years.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a unique tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Republic of Maldives, USAID/India & Bhutan and USAID/Sri Lanka & Maldives. The MOU signifies a strengthened partnership to support Maldives’ energy transition. This MOU was signed by H.E. Thoriq Ibrahim on behalf of the Ministry and Alex Huerta, Acting Mission Director of USAID/India & Bhutan, and Gabriel Grau on behalf of USAID/Sri Lanka & Maldives.
Following the MOU signing, Michael Schiffer, Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia at USAID, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized the critical role of regional collaboration in achieving energy sustainability and highlighted the importance of sharing best practices, such as the labeling program and smart metering, within South Asia. Schiffer reaffirmed the program’s commitment to green energy goals and the preservation of Maldives’ natural beauty.
In her closing remarks, Alex Huerta emphasized the anticipated impact of the SAREP program on enhancing energy access and reliability in Maldives and across the region. She recognised the SAREP program as a collaborative platform crucial to addressing the climate goals of South Asia and expressed gratitude to the esteemed panel for their inspiring remarks.
The launch event included technical sessions discussing planned activities under SAREP Maldives, such as improving the existing regulatory environment, demand forecasting, and the smart meter roll-out roadmap. The sessions also covered the expansion of Maldives’ standards and labeling programs, and the development of a guidebook for energy management in schools.
Representatives from various ministries and organizations, including the Utility Regulatory Authority, State Electric Company Limited (STELCO), Fenaka Corporation Limited, Maldives Customs Service, HDC, and the Maldives National Association of Construction Industry (MNACI), participated in the event. The commitment and collaborative spirit witnessed during the launch underscore the collective dedication to enabling energy security and sustainable development in the Maldives.
The event concluded with USAID reaffirming its commitment to an energy-secure, environmentally sustainable, and economically prosperous South Asia. The SAREP partnership furthers the Maldives’ progress toward a greener, more resilient power system by emphasizing the importance of international cooperation.
