In order to enable our country, Benin, to achieve the objectives of access to electricity for all set by the MDGs, it has proved essential to initiate actions aimed at controlling energy consumption. It is on the basis of this observation of the experts in 2016 that the Ministry of Energy, taking advantage of the investment opportunity of the 2nd compact of MCA-BENIN, has embarked on the reform aimed at the adoption of minimum performance standards. energy and the labeling system for lamps and room air conditioners in Benin. This process resulted in the signing, in December 2018, of Decree No. 2018-563 of December 19, 2018 setting the minimum energy performance standards and the energy labeling system for individual lamps and air conditioners in the Republic of Benin.

After a moratorium period of 18 months, this decree comes into force on June 30, 2020 with the observance of an additional period of awareness and non-sanction of 12 months. On Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at Benin Royal Hotel in Cotonou, a review workshop began on the implementation of this decree. The opening ceremony of the said workshop was chaired by the Minister of Energy, Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU, in the presence of the Resident Director of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Mr. Christopher BROUGHTON and of the National Coordinator of MCA-BÉNIN II, Gabriel DEGBENI.

During his speech, the Director General of ABERME Francis TCHEKPO, indicated that “after more than a year of entry into force of this decree, the ABERME processed on the GUCE platform 58 requests for certificates submitted by a set of 31 importers. Out of the 58 requests, only 08 were approved and enabled the importation of 5,987 air conditioners and 5,530 electric lamps of all powers, models and energy classes combined ”. He also said that the rate of rejected applications estimated at 86% is very high. This explains the observed low penetration of labeled efficient lamps, room air conditioners and refrigerators on the market. “These figures also indicate the need to continue, strengthen and amplify the

For the National Coordinator of MCA-BENIN II, Gabriel DEGBENI, statistics indicate that the penetration of efficient equipment in our markets has been low since the entry into force of standards and energy labeling. Hence “today’s workshop is a suitable melting pot for taking stock of the implementation of the decree setting standards relating to energy efficiency, ensuring the appropriation of the various concepts and procedures for bringing equipment into conformity. household appliances selected by the various private actors, and recommend relevant recommendations likely to accelerate the reforms underway in this area ”according to his remarks.

According to Minister Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU, Decree N ° 2018-563 of December 19, 2018 “aims to promote energy efficiency by cleaning up the supply market for this equipment, formerly flooded by inefficient and energy-consuming devices” . And this workshop is a call for the general mobilization of all the actors involved in the implementation of this reform, in order to make energy efficiency a success in Benin.

During this workshop, the participants will have the task of:

– diagnosing the problems linked to the emergence of energy efficiency in Benin;
– identify the elements of public policy to be implemented to meet the various challenges;
– define a mechanism for coordinating actions for more efficiency, taking into account gender and social inclusion.

The Minister of Energy has indicated that he will spare no effort to support the various initiatives aimed at the development and financing of energy efficiency. He recalled that “capacity building must be at the center of our actions, because the quality of the people depends on our ability to produce the expected results”.

Before announcing the opening of the workshop, the Minister reiterated to the Technical and Financial Partners of the energy sector as well as to the various actors of the sector and to all those who supported the organization of this workshop, all his gratitude for their constant support.

Source: Government of the Republic of Benin