Geothermal Training: Policy development, Kigali/ Rwanda, Dec. 7-11, 2010

Lemigo Hotel, Kigali/ Rwanda (source: Lemigo Hotel website)

Alexander Richter 28 Nov 2010

A Regional Geothermal Training Workshop on Policy Development and Harmonization will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, December 7-11, 2010.

Venue is the Lemigo Hotel , Kigali,  Rwanda. On 11  December  2010, a one  day field visit to Gisenyi geothermal prospect area will be carried out.

The overall objective of this training workshop is to address an important challenge, and a barrier to, development of geothermal resources in EAR which is inadequate policy, institutional and regulatory framework to attract private investments in the region. The workshop also aims at developing appropriate, clear and coherent legal and institutional framework to attract private investors into the geothermal sector. Ultimately, it is expected that the workshop will lead to greater private sector participation (both as Private Public Partnership and Independent Power Producer) for geothermal resource development in the region.

The specific objectives of the Workshop include the following:

• delineate the needs and expectations of private sector
• create awareness about and transfer knowledge on the subject.
• present the progress report on Regional Geothermal program for the Eastern African Countries,
• acquire inputs and guidance from representatives of Eastern Africa countries to further implement the adopted road map/action plan, and
• Validate the proposal on the feasibility of establishing a Regional Geothermal Coordination unit as per the Addis Ababa Declaration on Geothermal Energy by Ministers responsible for Energy of the 11 countries of EARS (June 2009) and adopted action plan (March 2010).

Topics include: geothermal resource development strategy, challenges/ barriers for development, existing policy, needs and expectations of private and public developers to invest on development, clear and coherent policy, financing, preparation of bankable documents.

The event expects about 80-100 participants with representatives from: utilities, regulators and policy makers from 11 countries of the East African Rift plus Malawi, but also benefits private and public sectors, regional power pools, regional economic communities and specialized institutions.

Deadline for confirmation was November 15, 2010.

Program and Details (word document)