Image: World Economic Forum – Flickr
French investment company Meridiam last week launched a research and training program focused on renewable energy development in Dakar.
Managed by the International Centre for Training and Research in solar energy (CIFRES), a unit of the Higher Polytechic School of Dakar (ESP), the program aims to train 200 technicians and electricians in Senegal. It will also feature a specific component devoted to research in renewable energy.
“We are backing and funding Dakar Higher Polytechnic School to support the increase in capacities throughout the renewable energy sector, for a total of 120m FCFA ($206,309),” stated Thierry Deau, Managing Director of Meridiam, during the inauguration ceremony.
“The aim is to make Dakar a center of excellence which will shine across Africa,” he said.
Ann Weston, heading the program for the Center of Research for International Development of Canada (CRDIC), added: “The goal of the program is to prepare the Senegalese youth and train them to work in the renewable energy sector and support solar energy which is a key mean to achieve sustainable development goals.”
President of CRDI, Jean Lebel, emphasized the synergies between CRDI and Meridiam: “It’s a very innovative collaboration which highlights our complementary skills and competencies as well as our deep common interest for sustainable development in Africa.”
Technical partners of the program are ESP in Dakar and the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne through its photovoltaic-laboratory.