Antigua and Barbuda’s Energy Minister Elected IRENA Vice President for Latin America and Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda’s Energy Minister Melford Nicholas has been elected vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean at the 16th session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly in Abu Dhabi, placing the country in a senior leadership role within the agency.

During the Assembly, Nicholas met with IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera to discuss accelerating renewable energy deployment in Small Island Developing States, with a focus on investment, partnerships and climate-resilient projects. In the national statement, Nicholas said Antigua and Barbuda remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, with fuel costs accounting for about 67 percent of utility revenues, and called for faster rollout of solar and wind energy alongside stronger, climate-proofed infrastructure.

Nicholas urged greater access to concessional financing and tailored risk-mitigation tools for SIDS, while pointing to ongoing support for a hybrid solar project in Barbuda from the United Arab Emirates, as well as assistance from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the CARICOM Development Fund. He later chaired a ministerial-level session, reinforcing Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership within IRENA.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]