INOGATE & Energy investments

Investment in energy sources, whether traditional or renewable, and increasing energy efficiency helps to make energy supply more secure, creates new jobs, fosters economic development and technology innovation, and safeguards the future of our planet.

Enhanced energy independence, sustainable growth and cost saving require a spectrum of supporting policies and measures to ensure adequate investment levels and obtain international financing for energy systems.

Economic growth, attracting investment and increasing energy security are all important priorities for INOGATE Partner Countries (PCs). Developing all energy sources and their infrastructure and boosting investment in renewables and energy efficiency is key.

The issues are complex. Fossil fuel is relatively inexpensive and is often subsidised in most INOGATE PCs; as a result its use is often intensive. Existing tariffs do not take into account the true economic cost of fossil fuel, resulting in slow investment growth in energy due to insufficient projects for appropriate investment.

INOGATE is facilitating the creation of policy to facilitate energy investments in its PCs by providing support activities to solidify the investment efforts of the PCs through shared experience and technical expertise, and by enhancing the financing capacities of the private sector, specifically local financial institutions.

INOGATE's focused training programme on energy financing for local financial institutions helps foster private sector investment in energy. Local financial experts now have the specific skills to make better investment decisions, build synergies and improve prospects for viable investments. These skills are vital to unblocking investments in sustainable energy.

INOGATE work is resulting in real investments in sustainable energy. For example, in Armenia, a local bank in cooperation with an EU bank have come together, through INOGATE, and are now developing a €20 million project on renewable energy for greenhouses, using solar and biogas technologies. INOGATE's study tour has led a second bank in Armenia to finance 4 projects on sustainable energy, with a total amount of €2.8 million as well as signing a loan contract with the Green Growth Fund (GGF) for €3.6 million. Another example is in Belarus where a local bank, together with the EBRD, is financing a €10 million sustainable energy project.

Together with key stakeholders in the PCs, INOGATE is carrying out comprehensive mapping of the region's renewable energy resource potential. A map of resources, created by analysing existing data in the PCs and plugging information gaps, will be a practical tool for investors to make sound energy investment decisions.