Antigua and Barbuda sign MoU with China for solar-powered street lights

The Department of Environment of Antigua and Barbuda and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will provide Antigua with 1,500 solar-powered street lights and 200 residential photovoltaic and energy storage system units.

This initiative is aimed at improving public safety, visibility in communities and reducing fossil fuel consumption and electricity costs.

Authorities say, the agreement promotes energy independence and also paves the way for Antigua and Barbuda residents to have greater stability during power disruptions caused by weather events; along with increased clean energy storage and generation.

The agreement was signed at the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belém, Brazil.

Antigua and Barbuda's Director of the Department of Environment, Ambassador Diann Black-Layne signed the agreement. She said that the MoU underscores the growing spirit of international cooperation in addressing the global climate crisis and demonstrates China’s continued support for small island developing states (SIDS) in achieving their sustainable development and energy transition goals.