The Energy Security and Resource Efficiency in Somaliland Programme (ESRES) supported the Government of Somaliland to improve access to affordable electricity for vulnerable communities through the promotion of renewable energies. This choice for renewable energies was based on the premise that green infrastructure investments in fragile states have potentially positive poverty reduction benefits while at the same time reducing the country’s vulnerability to the negative effects of climate change.
The Programme was governed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Somaliland (GoSL) through the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MoEM) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO). The MoU was renewed in September 2019. Mott MacDonald was contracted as Programme Manager for the day-to-day management of the Programme.
ESRES was implemented in two phases:
- Phase 1 as a pilot phase – August 2015 to August 2018
- Phase 2 as an expansion phase – September 2017 to April 2021
ESRES supported the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MoEM) with the development of the policy and regulatory framework and supported the development and implementation of nine hybrid mini grids throughout Somaliland. The ESRES funded projects contributed to the development of Somaliland aiming to make electricity more accessible and affordable to the people of Somaliland. Some of the key results:
- Nine hybrid mini-grids are installed and operational providing clean energy to town across Somaliland;
- USD 7,5 million private sector funding leveraged to improve electricity generation and distribution, improving health and safety, and customer services;
- Average tariffs reductions for households in ESRES target areas reaching 37% for kWh. ESRES also addressed fixed rate with a 41% for ESRES1 project and 100% for two of the ESRES2 projects.
- 19,635 new connections
- Decreasing Carbon Dioxide emissions by 8,822 tonnes a year.