Denmark unveils a new project to forge cooperation with AU member countries on energy efficiency

Addis Ababa, February 11, 2025 (FMC) – The Royal Danish Embassy in Addis Ababa has announced a Denmark-African Union project titled “Efficiency First: Powering Africa’s Sustainable Development,” in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

The “Efficiency First: Powering Africa’s Sustainable Development” project aims to build capacity and implement energy efficiency initiatives in selected AU member countries.

In his opening remarks, Sune Krogstrup, the Ambassador of Denmark to Ethiopia and the African Union, stated, “Denmark has more than 20 years of history cooperating with the African Union in the areas of peace and security. But from this year the focus has been expanded. While the peace and security activities continue, climate and sustainability have been added.

The four-year Denmark-backed program will be implemented by the African Union (AU) and the African Energy Commission (AFREC), according to the Ambassador.

The ambassador shared Denmark’s best practices in energy efficiency, emphasizing the project’s significance in reducing energy demand growth, with multiple benefits. He explained, “We have called the project ‘Efficiency First,’ and this is to stress that energy efficiency must not be overlooked. Reducing the growth in energy demand has so many benefits: fewer power plants needed, more people can be supplied with energy, lower costs, and less CO2 emissions.”

However, the Ambassador noted that, “The positive development is not coming without some push,” urging governments of beneficiary countries to support the initiative.

“The purpose is to promote a good rational decision. To include both up-front investment and the yearly running cost for energy,” Ambassador Sune Krogstrup emphasized.

Mikael Togeby, Energy Sector Counsellor at the Royal Danish Embassy in Addis Ababa, elaborated on the focus areas of the Efficiency First project in detail.

Zewge Worku, Director of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Directorate at the Petroleum and Energy Authority, stated that the project is very significant for Ethiopia and the African continent as a whole in reducing energy loss and minimizing demand.

As one of the beneficiary countries, Ethiopia will also benefit from the project through the adoption of various energy conservation methods that would yield significant community benefits.

Rashid Ali Abdallah, Executive Director of AFREC, highlighted the role of the “Efficiency First: Powering Africa’s Sustainable Development” project in addressing energy loss on the continent and increasing access to power collaboratively.

Ethiopian government officials, representatives from the African Union Commission, and leadership from the African Energy Commission have attended the launching event.