Special Edition No. 33 Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Pages 4 PRESIDENT ISAIAS AFWERKI ON A WORKING VISIT IN ETHIOPIA Minister Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Hachalu Civic Center within the Minister Andargachew Gedu, and compound, coffee plantations and State Minister of the Ministry investments centers in Oromia of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Redwan Region as well as Gibe-III and Hussein, upon arrival at Jimma IV hydropower plants in the Abajifar Airport. Southern Region. The Presidential delegation The two Heads of State have includes Foreign Minister Osman held extensive consultations on Saleh and Presidential Adviser further enhancement of bilateral Yemane Ghebreab. ties as well as the consolidation of regional cooperation. Accompanied by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, on 12 October, It is to be recalled that PM President Isaias and his delegation Abiy Ahmed had paid a similar visited Jimma University, the working visit to Eritrea last July. President Isaias Afwerki, Isaias, accompanied by Prime carrying out a three-day working accompanied by Prime Minister Minister Abiy also visited the visit to Ethiopia, on the invitation of the Federal Republic of Koysha hydropower dam under of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Ethiopia Dr. Abiy Ahmed visited construction on Omo River. the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance President Isaias Afwerki and Dam (GERD) in the afternoon President Isaias and Prime his delegation were accorded hours of yesterday, 13 October. Minister Abiy also visited a warm welcome by Prime National Park in Konta zone, President Isaias was given Southern Region on 12 October. briefing by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and professionals on President Isaias was accorded the objectives and construction warm welcome by residents of process of the grand dam. the area, the report added. ART COMPETITION BY EDF CULTURAL TROUPES CONCLUDED Earlier yesterday, President President Isaias Afwerki is Music and dancing competition Commissioner of Culture and the objective of the competition that was organized by the Sports attended, coordinators of the was to promote excellence as well Information and Promotion Unit of competition emphasized the role as nurture and inculcate national the Ministry of Defense, which has of the competition in promoting values. been underway from 14 September culture and professional excellence ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE – 8 October, was concluded on 10 and called for its sustainability. At the concluding ceremony October. financial prizes were handed out MINISTRY OF HEALTH Col. Solomon Sium, Head of the to winning individuals and cultural At the conclusion ceremony Information and Promotion Unit troupes in the music and dancing Nine patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests in which General Filipos of the Ministry of Defense, noted as well as stage performances carried out on 10 October at Quarantine Centers in Senafe (5) and Weldeyohannes, Chief of Staff the significant contribution of art and Benifer cultural troupe won Tsorona (4) in the Southern Region. of the Eritrean Defense Forces, in political campaigning and armed ‘Walta’ Award for winning the and Ambassador Zemede Tekle, struggle for liberation and said that overall competition. All the patients are nationals who returned from Ethiopia recently. On the other hand, eight patients who were receiving medical treatment in hospitals in the Southern Region have recovered fully and have been released from these facilities. The total number of recovered patients to-date accordingly stands at 372. The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has risen to 414. Ministry of Health Asmara 10 October 2020 Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, October 14, 2020 No. 33 2 Promoting Solar Energy in Eritrea Ruth Abraham Data from the wind and solar monitoring stations installed in Globally, the use of solar power many parts of Eritrea show that as an alternative source of energy the country has a great potential, is growing. In Africa, Egypt, around 6 kwh/m2 of solar energy. Morocco, Ghana and South Africa Based on studies carried out by are leading in their extensive use the Ministry of Energy and Mines of solar energy. Morocco is home (MEM) meteorological sites for to Africa’s biggest solar plant, the detection of potential solar Noor Solar Complex, and South sites have been set. Africa hosts eight of the ten largest solar plants in Africa. The The MEM has been working to Noor Solar Complex in Morocco provide modern, affordable and is a 500 MW solar park, which sustainable energy to previously is the biggest concentrated solar off-grid villages and rural towns power plant in the world. of Areza and Maidma in Debub region. The project targets over Eritrea’s major source of 40,000 residents in 40 villages, energy is petroleum, which drains over 513 small enterprises, solar systems. pollute the environment and save the national capacity. The plan the foreign currency reserves 15 schools, 2 kindergartens, 2 As part of its efforts to promote money in the long run even if their includes a 20-30 MW wind and of the country and is globally a community hospitals, 5 health the use of alternative sources of installation cost is quite high. solar hybrid power at Dekemhare, major cause of pollution. The stations and 80 organizations. energy, the MEM built in April Although Eritrea may have a a10 MW wind power at Assab, a government of Eritrea has been 2018 a photovoltaic plant east of long way to go in its exploitation 10-20 MW solar power at Asmara, making efforts to promote the use Solar energy plants have Asmara. The plant generates an of environment-friendly Adikeih, Debarwa and Barentu, a of alternative sources of energy, been installed around Logo and average of 11- thousand kilowatt alternative sources of energy, it 5 MW solar power at Gerset, a especially solar energy, to mitigate has demonstrated its commitment 5 MW wind and solar hybrid at the problems associated with the by the projects carried out that Kerkebet and a 2-3 MW solar use of fossil fuel. A major benefit emphasize the use of solar and diesel hybrid at Nakfa, which will of solar energy is that it does not wind energies. The two power be linked to the national grid. pollute the environment and saves plants, one in Areza (1.5 acres) money in the long run even if its and another in Maidma (2.5 The MEM also plans to increase installation cost is quite high. acres), showcase the use of solar energy efficiency in Eritrea hybrid power systems to provide through the expansion of rural Eritrea’s weather, characterized continuous power supply to rural electrification by the extensive by long sunny days throughout communities in those areas. installation of solar systems, the year, makes it suitable the rehabilitation of Asmara’s for harnessing solar power. Going forward the MEM plans power distribution system, the to boost its power generation establishment of an assembling capacity by departing from its plant for batteries and other Misilam dams, and a similar plant hours of electricity per day. dependence on fossil fuels and by appliances as well as facilities for is in the making in Kerkebet. The Moreover, in Asmara, more than intensifying its efforts to look for in-house capacity building. excess energy generated at the 400 solar powered streetlights, alternative sources of energy that plants near Logo and Misilam covering a distance of 13 are renewable. In the long run, the MEM dams is channeled to the national kilometers, have been installed. intends to give universal access grid. The use of solar energy is In its short term plan it intends of modern energy in Eritrea Published Every increasingly becoming common Alternative sources of energy to increase the amount of solar by extending the national grid that many households have home such as solar energy do not and wind energy that will enhance throughout the country. SaturdayPublished & Wednesday Every WednesdayPublished & SaturdayEvery Saturday & Wednesday Acting Editor Acting Editor Amanuel Mesfun [email protected] Mesfun [email protected] P.O.Box: 247 P.O.Box: 247 Tel: 11-41-14 Fax: 12-77-49 E-mail: [email protected]@[email protected] zena.gov.er Advertisement: 12-50-13 Layout AAzmerazmera BerhaneBerhane AidaSaraSara JoharAlem Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, October 14, 2020 No. 33 3 Our Environment is Always Worthy of Attention By: Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion hundreds of miles of shoreline, Convention on Persistent Organic devastating local ecosystems, and Pollutants, 2001 (acceded 10 destroying the livelihoods of many March 2005); Cartagena Protocol engaged in the local fishing sector. on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2000 (acceded Thus, within the overall context 10 March 2005); Kyoto Protocol described in the preceding to the United Nations Framework paragraphs, Minister Tesfai’s Convention on Climate Change, comments and appeals seem more 1997 (acceded 28 July 2005); than reasonable and well-placed. Paris Agreement, 2015 (signed 22 April 2016); Doha Amendment to As a final point, it is worth the Kyoto Protocol, 2012 (accepted recalling that concern and regard 3 May 2018); Nagoya Protocol on for the local and surrounding Access to Genetic Resources and natural environment is not a the Fair and Equitable Sharing passing fad or recent trend in of Benefits Arising from their Eritrea. Rather, the environment Utilization to the Convention on has always been a critical topic for Biological Diversity, 2010 (acceded Eritrea. For instance, the National 13 March 2019). About two weeks ago, Tesfai coastal areas are some of Eritrea’s only be regarded as clear, very Charter (1994) states that, “We are In addition to these important Ghebreselassie, Eritrea’s Minister most unique, richly diverse, and serious, and worthy of continued committed to economic growth, but commitments, environmental of Land, Water, and Environment important regions. Although close attention. Built in the 1970s, in conjunction with social justice activities have been a fundamental delivered an address to the United the country is not the largest in the rusting, decaying vessel is and the protection of the natural plank of development programmes Nations Summit on Biodiversity.