Last month, representatives from the Independent Regulatory Board (IRB) of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) concluded a study visit to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). The initiative was supported by the ENGAGE – Accelerating the Energy Transition in Africa programme, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with the African Union Commission (AUC) playing a key leadership role as its political partner, and implemented in partnership with GET.transform. The week-long exchange, held from 16–20 February in Harare, Zimbabwe, provided a valuable opportunity for regional experts to enhance their technical knowledge, supporting the IRB’s ongoing efforts to establish comprehensive market monitoring and surveillance frameworks for the future regional competitive electricity market of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP).
The delegation included officials from the IRB and EAPP, alongside participation from the African Union Commission (AUC). Their involvement highlighted strong institutional commitment to advancing regional electricity market integration and supporting the broader objectives of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM).
Over the course of the visit, participants engaged in technical sessions and peer-learning with SAPP experts to gain practical insights into the operation of one of Africa’s most advanced regional electricity markets. Areas of focus included transmission pricing and wheeling methodologies, cross-border energy metering arrangements, and the design and implementation of market and surveillance capabilities.
A major takeaway was the centrality of strong governance structures in enabling efficient regional electricity markets. Delegates examined how clearly defined institutional roles among market operators, system operators, regulators and utilities underpin transparent and reliable electricity trading across interconnected systems. Through technical demonstrations at the SAPP offices, the delegation also gained insights into digital trading platforms and integrated data systems that support secure bidding processes, maintain detailed transaction records and enable regulators to monitor market activity effectively.
Additional sessions focused on the role of accurate cross-border metering in facilitating transparent settlement of electricity transactions and managing energy imbalances within interconnected power systems. Discussions with national institutions, including the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) and the national utility ZESA Holdings, further highlighted the importance of tariff frameworks that balance financial sustainability for utilities with consumer protection through transparent regulatory oversight.
The insights gained during the study tour will inform the IRB’s development of robust market monitoring, surveillance, and regulatory functions, supporting the establishment of a well-governed and sustainable regional electricity market in Eastern Africa. The closing ceremony also marked a key milestone, with IRB and SAPP leadership signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise continued cooperation and peer learning on regional electricity market oversight.
