Government is set to introduce a new policy on the use of clean energy. The revelation was made on Wednesday by James Baanabe, the Director Energy Resources Department Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development during the inaugural clean cooking innovation summit held at Mackinnon Suites.
“As Stakeholders, it is very important that you have interest in the policy. We have clearly articulated how we shall address financing mechanisms, awareness, taxation and marketing,” Baanabe said.
Daniel Johannes Schuett, the Deputy programme Director Energy Programme GIZ urged government to create a minimum standard for cook stoves to not only save the environment but also as a step towards clean and healthier cooking.
Organised by GIZ Energising Development (EnDev) Uganda on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the summit was part of the Clean and Efficient Cooking Energy Sector Support Program which is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and implemented by GIZ EnDev.
This Sector Support Program comprised of the ‘Kyuusa Enfumba Yo’ Awareness Campaign, a series of cook stove tests under the new draft UNBS standard conducted by CREEC, and support to the Uganda National Alliance on Clean Cooking (UNACC).
It targeted all Ugandan companies in the Clean and efficient cooking energy sector including producers, distributors and providers of stoves and fuels.
The five-day event aimed at boosting the innovation capacity of the clean cooking sector. It first saw more than 60 participants drawn from companies train on design of cook stoves, business development, kiln construction, franchising and other relevant areas. The trainings (November 26, 27) were conducted by both national and international experts. The trainings were intended to catalyze an innovative mindset.
The conference brought together key stakeholders from government entities, civil society, financial institutions, donors, clean cooking associations and researchers who discussed pertinent issues relevant to the sector.
Among the topics discussed included; Framework conditions for building scalable businesses, the role of alliances in boosting the clean cooking sector, as well as standards and financing.
The conference also involved B2B sessions and an exhibition. The pinnacle of the summit was the Innovation Award Ceremony which saw some companies receive awards and tricycles for their innovativeness.
