UNDP signs an agreement to support the Palestinian Solar Initiative – UNDP/PAPP press release

PRESS RELEASE

Sustainable energy for the future

UNDP signs an agreement to support the Palestinian Solar

Initiative

Ramallah, 01 August 2012 – The Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority, the Ministry of Planning and Administrative Development and the United Nations Development Programme signed an agreement worth USD 50,000 to support the Palestinian Solar Initiative (PSI). The Initiative addresses social, economic and environmental objectives to tackle poverty and promote sustainable development through an integrated energy solutions model.

The project will include the installation of three KWp of on-grid Photo Voltaic Panels, one KWp Wind system, supply of concentrated solar readers to produce and update the Palestinian solar ATLAS necessary for designing and planning new project activities for potential and future investments. The project will also contribute to raising awareness, mobilizing resources and enforcing the Palestinian Authority’s efforts towards achieving clean and secure energy.

H.E. Omar Kittaneh, Chairman of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority highlighted that this agreement is a practical step towards the implementation of the renewable energy strategy that was approved by the Palestinian cabinet. “The strategy aims at diversifying energy resources in the occupied Palestinian territory and utilizing more renewable energy resources especially solar and wind energy” he said.

Renewable energy provides a quick response to providing secure electricity for the Palestinian people. The current and future shortage of energy resources in the West Bank and Gaza Strip negatively affect development opportunities for public and private sectors, as well as the construction and management of public infrastructure facilities, specifically in health, water and wastewater.

“Today we signed a USD 50,000 agreement between the Palestinian National Authority and the United Nations Development Programme to start a small project in renewable energy, solar energy and wind energy at PENRA. I think this very important pilot project will allow us to use solar and renewable energy to improve the quality of environment,” said H.E. Mohammed Abu Ramadan, Minister of State for Planning Affairs. “We hope that the project will be replicated across the country,” he added.

“UNDP appreciates the partnership with PENRA and MOPAD and welcomes this initiative as a model example that will be replicated and scaled up with a goal of achieving access to energy for the Palestinian people” said Yasmine Sherif, acting UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator.

The signing ceremony was held on 01 August 2012 at the Ministry of Planning and Administrative Development and was attended by H.E. Mohammed Abu Ramadan, Minister of State for Planning Affairs, H.E. Omar Kittaneh, Chairman of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority and Yasmine Sherif, acting UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator.

It is worth noting that the share of renewable energy among the total energy consumption in the occupied Palestinian territory stands currently at 16 percent, with the aim of increasing it to 25 percent by 2020, while taking into account the overall increase in energy consumption as a consequence of population growth.

For further information, please contact:

Dania Darwish, Communications Specialist, Tel: 00972-2-6268229 – email:

dania.darwish@undp.org, in Gaza Hashim Al Husseini, Communications Assistant, Tel: 00972-

59-2776565, email: hashim.elhusseini@undp.org. For more information on UNDP/PAPP

see http://www.undp.ps.

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