Government to Set Up Renewable Energy Investment Office

The Cabinet has decided to establish Renewable Energy Investment Office to come up with economic solutions to the country’s energy concerns and expedite implementation of these solutions.

The Cabinet made the decision to set up the office after discussing a paper presented by the Ministry of Housing and Environment on country’s energy policy.

Renewable Energy Investment Office will operate under the Ministry of Economic Development.

Discussing the Environment Ministry’s paper, the Cabinet ministers reiterated the government’s commitment to the carbon neutrality goal.

They noted that realizing the carbon neutrality goal was necessary for the Maldives to enhance energy security and reduce relying on imported oil for energy, as well as to set an example for the rest of the world in leading the way in combating climate change.

The Cabinet ministers highlighted the need for a specialist government agency to direct the Maldives towards its goal to become carbon neutral by 2020.

Renewable Energy Investment Office will assist the government to draw up investment plans and proposals for foreign aid to facilitate investments and support in alternative energy projects in the Maldives.

Other functions mandated to the Renewable Energy Investment Office include finding and applying appropriate alternative energy solutions and assisting regional utilities companies in seeking investments and capacity building in the area of renewable energy technologies.

At today’s meeting, the Cabinet reviewed the progress of technical and vocational education training (TVET) programme initiated by the government.

After discussing a paper presented by the Ministry of Human Resources, Youth and Sports on the programme, the Cabinet recommended the establishment of TVET Authority to formulate curriculum for the Maldives Polytechnic.

Reaffirming the Maldives’ commitment to protecting and promoting human rights, the Cabinet today finalized the Maldives’ accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearence.