Press Release

Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Minister of Economic Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan will lead Bhutan’s delegation to the 7th Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Enery Agency (IRENA)”, 14-15 January 2017, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

It is significant, as Bhutan will participate as a full-fledged member of IRENA for the first time.

With the deposit of the Instrument of Accession, the Statute of the IRENA entered into force for Bhutan on 1 June 2016.

Bhutan’s membership to IRENA was deliberated and endorsed during the Fourth Session of the National Assembly and the Fifteenth session of the National Council in 2015.

IRENA, formed in 2009, is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. Currently, IRENA has 150 members.

Bhutan’s membership in IRENA reaffirms our commitment towards the use of renewable energy for sustainable development. SDG 7 seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. As a country where nearly
100% of its power generation is from renewable energy sources, Bhutan is well poised to be one of the global forerunners in the area of renewable energy