(Seychelles News Agency) - President Danny Faure highlighted Seychelles' strategy to meet renewable energy targets at the founding conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi, India on Sunday.

Addressing the plenary session, Faure said Seychelles is planning for energy security by achieving a target of 25 percent of renewable energy in 2030 and implementing 100 percent renewable energy strategy by 2050.

Faure said this strategy will enable Seychelles to meet its energy needs, lower carbon emissions, mitigate the adverse effects of climate change as well as provide energy to the population at affordable prices.

The President was invited to address the plenary session attended by 22 heads of state and government and around 500 delegates as Seychelles has the status of Founding Member of the Alliance. The archipelago in the western Indian Ocean achieved the status as it was among the first 15 countries to ratify the ISA Agreement at the Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris in 2015.

Faure emphasised two initiatives already launched in Seychelles, the first one aimed at installing 10,000 LED street lamps across the main islands by 2020 in the “Smart Energy” programmes.

In the programme for public places, public schools, health centres and old people’s homes will use solar photovoltaic panels and other accessories to meet their energy needs.

The second programme -- “Smart Energy in Homes and Businesses” -- focuses on the establishment of two solar farms on man-made island Ile de Romainville.

The International Solar Alliance is an inter-governmental organisation that aims to mobilise $1 trillion in funds for future solar generation, storage and technology across the world. The treaty-based organisation launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 aims to promote solar energy in 121 countries. 

The founding conference was co-chaired by the French President Mr Emmanuel Macron and the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

In the margins of the founding conference, Faure met with  Modi and congratulated him for the success of the Conference and the role given to Seychelles as a founding member of the Alliance.

He also reiterated Seychelles’ gratitude for the assistance provided by India through grants and Lines of Credit, saying it impacts very positively on many sectors at the heart of the country’s development.

President Faure and Modi also reviewed Seychelles-India cooperation, especially in the fields of human resources development, trade and maritime security.