The International Hydropower Association (IHA) will join with the Moroccan national utility, ONEE, to host a side event at COP22 on Thursday 17 November, exploring how hydropower can contribute to achieving Africa’s development goals.

The event, entitled Towards Better Hydro in Africa, will also feature speakers from the African Union Commission, the Government of Guinea and CI-Energies of Côte d’Ivoire.

The total worldwide installed capacity of hydropower is now significant, at 1,211 GW. This is enough low-carbon electricity to supply more than a billion people.
Along with providing storage and flexibility to the increasingly renewable and clean electricity system, hydropower can also contribute to multiple freshwater services, such as flood and drought control. Hydropower can thus contribute to water and energy security in a climate-constrained world.

Hydropower is however significantly underutilised in developing countries, and its benefits are not always well understood or optimised.

Against the backdrop of Agenda 2063 and the establishment of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, this session will bring together key players active in hydropower in Africa.

Discussions will focus on current challenges, successes and how building the right projects in the right place can help achieve ambitious development goals.

Speakers at the side event include:

• H.E Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission
• H.E Cheick Taliby Sylla, Minister of Energy and Hydraulics, Government of Guinea
• Mr Ali Fassi Fihri, CEO, ONEE, Morocco
• Mr Richard Taylor, CEO, International Hydropower Association
• Mr Amidou Traore, CEO, CI-Energies, Côte d’Ivoire

The side event takes place on Thursday 17 November at 10:30 – 12:00 in the Morocco Pavilion, Blue Zone.