Under the theme “Towards One Grid, One Market, One Vision for Africa”, the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) Forum united African energy institutions and development partners to review progress on the implementation of the AfSEM and the Continental Power Systems Master Plan (CMP). Hosted alongside the 60th Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) Annual Meetings in Accra, Ghana, the Forum created a crucial platform for over 100 power sector representatives to align priorities on utility development, regional electricity markets and continental market integration.
A significant accomplishment discussed was the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) and Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) market coupling to form Africa’s first inter-regional electricity market. Regulatory harmonisation, institutional strengthening and investment mobilisation to support regional electricity markets were central topics in addition to development partner support for AfSEM implementation.
GET.transform contributed to the panel discussion “From Regional Electricity Markets to Continental Market Integration: Delivering AfSEM’s Regional Energy Integration Goals,” alongside Directors of the SAPP, West African Power Pool (WAPP), EAPP, the African School of Regulation (ASR) and APUA. The session was moderated by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Forming part of Accelerating the Energy Transition in Africa (ENGAGE), GET.transform joined Jackson Mutonga, Advisor at ENGAGE, and Peter Kinuthia, Principal Energy Advisor from Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) in presenting the project’s contribution to AfSEM implementation. The experts highlighted how technical assistance supports regional power system planning, electricity market development, regulatory strengthening and institutional capacity, including ongoing work with SAPP, EAPP, the Regional Energy Regulators Association (RERA) and the Independent Regulatory Board (IRB).
The Forum is part of ENGAGE’s support to the African Union Commission (AUC) and African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in implementing AfSEM and the CMP.
The insightful Forum reinforced the importance of regional electricity markets and stakeholder cooperation as the foundation for the African Single Electricity Market to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition.
