A renewable energy initiative in the Seychelles is being launched by Masdar and the country’s president to address the islands’ shortage of resources.
Seychelles president James Michel called the project the “democracy of renewable energy” and said it would give hope to the country, which has poor hydrocarbon assets and little financial resources to import energy.
Masdar has set up the Seychelles’ first renewable energy project – a six-megawatt wind energy station in the capital Victoria.
A solar energy project is also under way.
The wind station provides 8 per cent of the electricity needs of Mahe island, which is home to 90 per cent of the country’s population.
The project was funded through a US$28 million (Dh102.8m) grant from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mr Michel said.
State news agency Wam reported Mr Michel said: “The scarcity of water resources in Seychelles requires us to rely on seawater and this naturally requires energy. Therefore, ensuring new sources of energy has become essential for our country and I would like to thank Abu Dhabi for its help in this respect.
“We welcome investors from the UAE, other Gulf states or any other country to set up renewable energy projects in Seychelles.”
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