Partnership with Octopus Energy Moves from Commitment to Delivery Ahead of CHOGM 2026

Antigua and Barbuda’s partnership with Octopus Energy is moving from commitment to practical delivery, with a fleet of electric vehicles now en route to the country for use during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), from 1–4 November 2026.

The vehicles, being provided with the support of Octopus Energy, will form part of the official transportation arrangements for Heads of Government and other delegates attending CHOGM. Their deployment will help reduce the use of conventional petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles and contribute to lowering the transport-related carbon footprint of the international meeting.

The initiative represents the first tangible deliverable under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in New York by Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne and Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation.

The partnership is designed to support Antigua and Barbuda’s transition towards a cleaner, more affordable and resilient energy future, with cooperation focused on electric mobility, renewable energy, battery storage and smart-energy technologies.

For Antigua and Barbuda, the arrival of the vehicles is also an important demonstration that the country’s international advocacy on climate change is being matched by practical action at home.

As a Small Island Developing State on the front lines of the climate crisis, Antigua and Barbuda has consistently maintained that meaningful climate leadership requires countries to translate commitments into action and pursue solutions that strengthen sustainability, resilience and energy security.

Prime Minister Browne welcomed the progress being made under the partnership.

“Antigua and Barbuda has consistently argued that climate leadership must be demonstrated through action. As we welcome Commonwealth leaders to our shores, we are equally conscious of our responsibility to host CHOGM in a manner that reflects the values and priorities we continue to champion internationally.

“International meetings of this scale must increasingly be organised in ways that reduce their environmental impact. By incorporating electric vehicles into the official transportation programme for CHOGM, Antigua and Barbuda is leading by example and demonstrating that sustainability can be integrated into the delivery of major international events.

“For Small Island Developing States, electric mobility is about much more than replacing one type of vehicle with another. It is part of reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels, strengthening energy security, improving air quality and building a more resilient economy.