The Gambia government through the Ministry of Energy in conjunction with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Gobal Environment Facility (GEF) on Wednesday validated a renewable energy project dubbed, UNIDO/GEF5 Project meant to promote the use and integration of Small to Medium Scale Renewable Energy Systems in the country’s productive sectors. Speaking at the opening ceremony in Banjul, the Industrial Development Officer of UNIDO, Alois Mhlanga, underlined the significance of the project, in ensuring a conducive environment for the people. He said the project seeks to ensure a shift from fuel power generation to natural power sources. Mhlanga also expressed his organization’s readiness to support the Gambia in the successful implementation of the project. In his opening remarks, the Minister of Energy, Dr Edward Saja Sanneh recounted the government’s readiness to ensuring a life-friendly energy generation in the country. ”Renewable energy and energy efficiency being central to the energy policy of the Government of the Gambia, the Ministry of Energy will continue to work with partners like Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) so as to continue to access climate financing under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to implement more renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the Gambia”, he said.