By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – Investors in the Italian region of Veneto are pursuing investment in the country’s renewable energy sector.
This was revealed by the minister of Energy and mineral resources Eng Hussein Abdi Duale during a press briefing in Hargeisa upon return from an official working visit of the United Kingdom and Italy.
Upon thanking members of the Tower Hamlet Council in London for recognizing the sovereignty of Somaliland and citizens in the UK Diaspora for their relentless campaign Eng Duale who represented the government at the vote in London urged others to follow suit.
Upon completion of his representative duties at the Council vote Eng Duale travelled to Italy upon invitation by both State agencies and various institutions with interests in the energy sector.
“During my five days visit in Italy I had the opportunity of meeting and briefing Italian government officials as well as executives of various International agencies based in Italy” reveled the energy minister adding that he also teleconferenced with senior EU energy officials and lectured at the World’s oldest University.
The Somaliland energy minister courtesy of the official invitation extended by the Italian Investment Fund took the occasion to brief his various hosts on the prevalent political, economic and security status in the country resulting in a clean bill of health as a viable destination for Italian investment.
In Rome and organized by Think Global high level discussions pertaining to the Italian government enhancement of direct relations with Somaliland were held with Emilio Ciarla the political advisor to both Italian deputy foreign affairs minister as well as Prime Minister
“Though our foreign affairs ministry has been in contact with the authorities in Rome in the past I am optimistic that things will hasten in Bi-lateral relations” said Minister Hussein Abdi Duale while acknowledging the support provided by Fondo Aiuti Italiano.
Following completion of deliberations in Rome that were more concentrated on issues Energy the minister preceded to Milan where he was similarly hosted by Opes Impact Fund and Etimos Foundation with subsequent high level talks more so on a Wind power project by a consortium of Italian Investors.
From Milan the whirlwind tour of Eng Hussein Duale saw him in Venice where he was hosted by the regional government of Veneto where wind powered energy is major source of power.
The Veneto authorities made it possible for me to visit and inspect the capabilities of their massive wind power source in the outskirts of Venice where a single windmill generates around 8 megawatts of electricity sufficient to service the whole of Hargeisa said Eng Duale
The Venetian visit also ensued with the Somalia d energy minister holding discussions via Teleconference with Ms Felicia Zaccheo a European Union Head of Unit and director General of Development and cooperation
Still in the region the energy minister now satiated with possibilities of availing Somalilanders cheap wind powered electricity visited the world’s oldest institution of higher learning, Padova University, where he gave a lecture to the mostly engineering faculty.
Said he “Though important agreements pertaining to Italian investment and bi-lateral relations with Somaliland had been successfully completed the climax of the tour was in lecturing at the institution where renowned scientists Galileo studied”
In conclusion the Minister who revealed that Italian investors upon assessments and his subsequent briefing were satisfied by sufficiency of wind velocity in Somaliland that coupled with prevalent peace and security despite non-recognition status said that he was optimistic of locally availed wind powered energy.
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