Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza yesterday presented approval certificates to the first batch of contractors and consultants trained for the installation of solar power systems during a ceremony at the Electricity and Water Authority Training Centre in Sitra.
Thirty-three contractors and consultants, of the 53 participants in the course, passed the intensive training programme, organized in collaboration with the Sustainable Energy Unit and the Global Advisory Company.
United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative in Bahrain Amin Sharkawi and Executive Vice President of Distribution and Customer Services at the Electricity and Water Authority Adnan Fakhroo, along with officials, were present at the event.
The training programme is an important part of the strategy of implementing and encouraging the use of renewable energy in Bahrain and looks at accelerating economic development.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said Bahrain's interest in renewable energy comes from the interest of the wise leadership to encourage the use of clean energy in the to achieve sustainable development and is part of the steps Bahrain is taking to achieve national goals related to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The minister also thanked the officials of the Electricity and Water Authority, the Sustainable Energy Unit and the consulting company for their efforts, which yielded fruitful results. He said the successful conclusion of this course is only the beginning in providing qualified contractors and consultants for the installation of solar systems. He said it is hoped the registration for the second workshop will be launched in April.
Mr. Al Sharqawi congratulated Dr. Mirza on the results of the workshop, which represents a positive shift towards saving energy in general. He said this would contribute to creating new jobs with the installation of solar panels in homes, factories and hotels.
He said that the United Nations Development Programme is working to support the Sustainable Energy Unit by providing the necessary technical expertise.
The contractors and consultants participating in the programme thanked the minister and officials and giving them an opportunity to obtain an approved certificate to complete the licensing procedures for installing and linking solar energy systems to the government electricity network.
The names of contractors and licensed consultants will be announced on the website of the Electricity and Water Authority in the near future so that people can consult them on everything related to the installation of solar energy systems.