The 5th Peer Review and Learning Network (PRLN) Meeting recently concluded in South Africa, drawing regulator delegates from Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, and Kenya. Hosted by South Africa’s energy regulator NERSA, the meeting focused on a review of the national energy regulation and was facilitated by the Power Futures Lab in partnership with GET.transform. The PRLN is a programme and exchange that builds capacity among electricity regulator CEOs across Africa.
The deeply insightful review involved dialogues with key stakeholders including the Presidency (comprising of Operation Vulindlela and the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), NERSA leadership, ESKOM management, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), municipal distributors, industry groups, consultants, and civil society organisations. The Presidency is leading initiatives to reverse the adverse impacts of the crisis by driving policies that attract cleaner and cheaper investments alongside improving existing plant performance.
South Africa’s power sector faces severe challenges such as loadshedding, technical and financial performance issues, steep tariff increases, and unsustainable debt levels. Concurrently, the sector is undergoing significant reforms including the unbundling of Eskom’s transmission operations and the introduction of competitive generation through trading platforms.
The PRLN’s comprehensive review provided valuable insights into South Africa’s energy landscape, highlighting current priorities, the extent of the power crisis, and opportunities for investment and reform.
The next PRLN meeting is scheduled for later this year and will focus on Tanzania, before a new set of countries is set to join the network in 2025.
