By Own Correspondent

INTERNATIONAL Labor Organisation’s  (ILO) recently launched Skills for Energy in Southern Africa (SESA) is set to equip 1 617 workers with green energy skills in a bid to prepare the region for climate friendly initiatives.

Speaking during a networking event held to launch the project in Harare recently, ILO’s Southern Africa, chief technical advisor in the SESA project, Lloyd Ngo said by the close of the project, it is expected that a total of 1617 engineers, technologists and technicians will be trained within the region contributing towards reduction of skills deficit.

“The Capacity of Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC) will be enhanced to become a sustainable center of excellence in provision of skills training in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies for the energy sector in the region,” he said.

The US$3,8 million project partnership agreement will be executed over a three- and half-year period and will be implemented by the Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC).

It is a build up to the just-ended Skills Development for the Renewable Energy Sector (SkiDRES) pilot Project implemented from April 2019 to October 2020, whose objective was to test and prepare for further skills development for the Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) sector.

“The project will be implemented from January 2021 to June 2024. The key implementing partner is Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre. More details on KGRTC will be presented,” added Ngo.

The Project is a US $ 3.8 Million partnership agreement to be executed over a three- and half-year period.

The regional project, which will be implemented by the Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC), is a build up to the just-ended Skills Development for the Renewable Energy Sector (SkiDRES) pilot Project implemented from April 2019 to October 2020, whose objective was to test and prepare for further skills development for the Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) sector.

The main objective of the SESA project is to increase uptake of Renewable Energy (RE), Energy Efficiency (EE) and Regional Energy Integration (REI) interventions in Zambia and Southern Africa, leading to a more sustainable and low-carbon energy mix.

The project will ensure that a significant number of technicians and professionals in the region’s energy sector improves their ability to apply, manage and promote modern renewable energy technologies.

In addition, the project would ensure that KGRTC has built its brand and standing as the region’s Centre of Excellence for competitive skills training in RE, EE and RE technologies.