ICPE successfully conducted a Short term training for Afghanistan officials

ICPE has successfully implemented one-week professional training programme on Solar Energy and Energy Efficiency for Herat Province, Afghanistan, co-financed under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Directorate of International Development and Cooperation. The main goal of this Development Assistance Programme was to present and share Slovene experience in the field of solar energy and energy efficiency. One week was exclusively dedicated to meetings with both policy-makers and practitioners in the field of solar energy.

Despite fast economic expansions and advancement of technology, many countries fail to ensure stable energy supply at affordable prices to its people. Due to technological enhancement and significant reduction of cost in extracting it, solar energy is becoming more and more important source of renewable energy that can be benefited from both in centralised and decentralised manner. The topics covered, among others, will include solar energy, the required infrastructure, technological and technical solutions, legislation for solar (renewable) energy sector development, solar energy as means for clean energy security and access, and complementary and partnership approaches towards solar energy issues and transfer of knowledge and expertise.

The participants, Ms Fariba Afsari, a trainer at the Monitor and Evaluation Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, and Mr Basir Rahimi, an engineer and company co-owner of the construction company which inclusively deals with telecommunication and energy installation, while the workshop, a number of visits to the companies and presentation of the concrete effective cases that have already been implemented in various parts of Slovenia, got acquaint of how Slovenian companies and institutions can contribute to enhancement of access and availability of energy by using local resources and improving technical knowledge of local people. On the other hand, Mr Basir presentation on Herat Province and solar energy use and needs of local people had greatly assisted Slovenian partners to understand better the situation and analyse possible future cooperation strategies and projects.

Last but not least, ICPE particularly wants to express deepest gratitude to all the companies, their representatives and employees for taking time to share their knowledge and expertise as well as for their hospitality and preparedness to cooperate with ICPE and its partners in future projects and activities. Also, thank you is extended to our contacts in Afghanistan for their cooperation and efforts to make possible this programme to happen.

Due to very successful feedbacks both from participants and the Slovenian counterparts, ICPE will continue implementing a training programme on Solar Energy and Energy Efficiency also in other regions worldwide in spring 2013.