Antananarivo: Prime Minister of Madagascar Christian Ntsay hailed the inauguration of the solar power plant at the Indian embassy here as “a great achievement in the diplomatic world”, on Gandhi Jayanti day, yesterday.
Ntsay, who was personally present during the inauguration that makes the Indian embassy at Antananarivo India’s first solar-powered embassy anywhere in the world, said”I really approve that India is making this change and my Government appreciates this great achievement, and this great initiative”.
The Prime Minister emphasised: “Madagascar is very impressed by this achievement; I expect that all Embassies in Antananarivo and all over the country will also switch from fossil energy to solar energy. We, our office can learn from this great achievement as well. I am also very happy to know that you have partnered with a Malagasy company to execute it and I congratulate you.”
The installation of 8 KW of solar power plant on rooftop of the embassy had been executed by a Malagasy company Vision Madagascar, highlighting India-Madagascar partnership. Ntsay said Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina had a vision to double the production of Energy in the country and renewable energy, solar, wind as well were the keys that could be used to promote this vision and to fulfill all these objectives in Madagascar.
Also read: India to have its first solar-powered embassy in Madagascar
“So, I think that India is showing us now that it is possible to change. Switching from thermal to solar, it is a great challenge, but we need to go beyond words and make it as a reality and now we can say that you have made a difference and I want to congratulate you and your team again for this great achievement,” he said.
Indian Ambassador Abhay K. said that ever since his arrival in Antananarivo in March 2019, he had been trying to make a transition from fossil fuels to solar energy here. “Indian Embassy Antananarivo consumes an average of 8 KW of power, mostly during the day time as the Embassy works from 8:30 am to 5 pm. So I thought why not to switch to a roof-top solar power source which could not only be environment friendly but would also be a cheaper and more reliable source of power as Antananarivo gets sun across the year and Madagascar (together with India) is also a member of International Solar Alliance. After a year and half of carrying this vision in my head, it is bearing fruit,” he informed.
Abhay said the inauguration coincided with the grand finale of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and referred to Mahatma’s words that ‘We must be the change we wish to see in the world’. “Today the Indian Embassy in Antananarivo has attempted to be that change by switching to solar energy,” he averred.
Prime Minister Ntsay acknowledged this “definite link “between non -violence and fighting climate change. “Yes it is very important to hold that in the value of promoting Democracy in Madagascar, we need to learn a lot from Mahatma Gandhi and non-violence is the best way of promoting a new and very developing country. We all see this as a model and it will be a good practice we need to learn to excercise in political arena,” he said.
India today is the cheapest producer of solar energy as per IRENA. It has 37 gigawatts of installed solar electricity as of now and has raised its target of renewable energy capacity from the initial 2015 goal of 175 gigawatts to 500 gigawatts by 2030.
“India could extend a helping hand to Madagascar in adding 400 MW of additional energy required to meet the Emergence initiative of President Andrey Rajoelina,” the Ambassador told Prime Minister Ntsay. He further conveyed India’s appreciation the presence of Prime Minister Ntsay at the event, which “shows the commitment of the Government of Madagascar towards using solar energy in fighting climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution”.
– globalbihari bureau
