Partners discuss La Digue’s sustainable energy goals |09 November 2015

Stakeholders in the Seychelles energy and climate change sector recently convened on La Digue in relation to two initiatives aimed at promoting the vision of the island as the world’s eco capital.

They discussed the island’s sustainable energy goals and strategy and viewed progress of the La Digue school’s sustainability project.

Partners included the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, the Seychelles Energy Commission, UNDP-GEF, the Clinton Climate Initiative, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the European Union (EU), the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC), Sustainability for Seychelles and La Digue school.

In the morning stakeholders met in the La Digue community centre for  presentation and discussions on the draft of La Digue’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategy. This strategy, funded by the IOC and the EU, focuses on identifying opportunities for renewable energy generation on La Digue and facilitating stakeholder consensus and engagement around this strategy.

Andrew Jean-Louis presented the draft plan to the audience which is still open for discussions and suggestions.

In his speech for the occasion the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change Didier Dogley said La Digue is a place where one can walk freely on the road without being hindered by passing vehicles. And the president’s vision of La Digue becoming the eco capital of the world means the island becoming a model for the world where renewable energy efficiency takes the lead on everything else.

And since then his ministry, helped by IOC and the EU, has been looking at different concepts and models but a very organised plan is still to be forwarded. During a previous workshop, everybody got the chance to have their input in that draft strategy.

“Everybody made comments, contributions so that we get the best for La Digue,” Minister Dogley said.

He mentioned other plans for La Digue in the renewable and energy efficiency fields like a waste management plant, a centralised sewage system and a 5- megawatt plant.

There was also a presentation by the EU/IOC representative Lamberto Orilia from Programme ENERIES.

In the afternoon, partners of the La Digue school sustainability project met to celebrate the school’s progress towards becoming a fully sustainable school.

La Digue school has been working with all stakeholders to develop a whole school approach to sustainability including renewable energy generation, resource efficiency sustainable waste management and environmental education.

The afternoon included a tour of the school’s sustainability initiatives, tree planting and donation of a solar PV panel of 4kw by company Sunergy and accepted by head teacher Michel Madeleine and a student from La Digue secondary school. The trees, Bois de Natte and Bois de Renette, were donated by the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA).

In a short address for the occasion, Minister Dogley said one of the ways to do things for the future of this planet is looking at renewable energy and also to start with the schools. And regarding the solar panels donated to the school, the minister described it as a means where pupils can learn about technology.

“Let’s put all the energy that we have to ensure that La Digue becomes the eco-capital of the world,” said Minister Dogley.

Head teacher Madeleine made a brief overview of the school’s sustainability project and added his school remains committed to making La Digue the eco capital of the world.

Ian Collie, deputy head teacher, also gave a brief summary of La Digue school’s sustainability project:

“We have already started installing our solar panels as you can see on the roof, water harvesting tanks, segregated the school’s waste in various ways, composting which can be used for planting of flowers around the school campus and being more efficient in electricity usage by using LED bulbs. La Digue school needs altogether 13KW energy from the solar panels which will reduce its electricity bill by 80 %.”

There was a small present to the head teacher from Minister Dogley.