On May 21, 2024, the 8th Coordinating Committee Meeting of the International Network on Small Hydro Power (INSHP) was successfully held in Hangzhou. At the meeting, the 8th Coordinating Committee was elected, the Work Report of the 7th Coordinating Committee was reviewed, and the Work Plan of the 8th Coordinating Committee was approved. Furthermore, it was unanimously agreed to establish the Committee on “Green Small Hydro Power Promoting Rural Revitalization” under the INSHP.

The 8th Coordinating Committee consists of 25 members from the United Nations system, international organization, Europe, Asia, Africa, America and specialized institutions. Compared to the 7th Coordinating Committee, new members from Belt and Road and BRICS countries such as Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Mexico and Brazil, as well as specialized institutions such as the International Hydropower Association and the Brazilian Small Hydro Power Association have been included. After the election, Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, was appointed as the Honorary Chairwoman of the 8th Coordinating Committee; Xu Dezhi, Deputy Director General (DG level) of the Department of Rural Water and Hydropower, Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China, was appointed as the Chairman of the 8th Coordinating Committee; Xu Jincai, Director of the International Center on Small Hydro Power, was appointed as the Director General of INSHP; and Yue Menghua, Deputy Director of the International Center on Small Hydro Power, was appointed as the Deputy Director General of INSHP.

At the Meeting, Yue Menghua delivered a work report entrusted by the Chairperson of the 7th Coordinating Committee. The participating members fully affirmed and appreciated the work and achievements of INSHP over the past three years, put forward pertinent advice and suggestions on the work plan of INSHP for the next three years, and expressed their expectation that INSHP will make greater contributions to promoting the sustainable development of global small hydro power.

Chairman Xu Dezhi said that INSHP should strive to make more contributions and achieve greater achievements for the global small hydropower industry with the joint efforts of the members of the 8th Coordinating Committee. The representative of the Honorary President, Muhammad·E·Sayf Ernase, the representative of the Honorary Chairwoman, conveyed the gratitude of Chileshe Kapwepwe to the INSHP, appreciated the achievements made by INSHP, and said that the cooperation and exchange between the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the INSHP in the field of small hydro power and renewable energy would continue to be deepened.

Group photo

Mr. Xu Dezhi, Chair of the 8th Coordinating Committee

Mr. Mohamedain E. Seif Elnasr, the Honorary Chairperson’s representative of the 8th Coordinating Committee, CEO Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA

Mr. Iqbal Hussain, Member of the 8th Coordinating Committee, Deputy Director General (MHP/SHP) of Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy and Technology，MINISTRY of Science & Technology, Government of Pakistan

Mr. Vahan Sargsyan, Member of the 8th Coordinating Committee, Energy Strategy Center / Scientific Research Institute of Energy (CJSC), Armenia