African Union Commission holds hydropower workshop in Cairo

In an effort to produce workers skilled in the operation and maintenance of hydropower systems, the third in a series of five-day workshops took place recently in Cairo, Egypt.

The workshop was presented by the African Union Commission's (AU) Department of Infrastructure and Energy and hosted by Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy (MOERE) at the Leadership Training Centre through the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC). Sessions were led by energy experts from across the continent, including Benin, Ghana, Liberia and Niger.

The workshop covered topics related to the economic, technical, social and environmental impacts of small hydropower systems.

Atef Marzouk, acting head of the Energy Division of the AU's Department of Infrastructure and Energy, said the commission's focus is on making modern, sustainable energy available to all African citizens. Marzouk encouraged the workshop's participants to take what they had learned and apply it in their communities.

Eng. Gaber Desouky, chairman of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC), said Egypt was committed to working with AU member states to share ideas and information as renewable energy sources were developed across the continent. Desouky invited participants to come to future workshops and courses.