African energy stakeholdersmet at a 2-dayworkshop in the margins of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy meeting of the “Reference Group on Infrastructure”, to develop cooperation at the continental level, towards the development of a harmonized regulatory framework for energy.

The Stakeholders’ dialogue workshop was co-organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the European Union (EU), through its Technical Assistance Facility for the“Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), Eastern and Southern Africa” initiative.

The workshop was attended by the following energy stakeholder representatives: Continental organizations representatives from AUC, NEPAD/NPCA, APUA, AFREC, AFUR, UNECA; Regional Economic Communities (REC) representatives from COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, ECOWAS, SADC; regional organisations and bodies such as RERA, and ERERA; and EU representatives and the team of Technical Experts.

Existing regulations and best practices at national, regional and continental levels were discussed, and a common approach towards harmonization of energy legislations was developed.This is the first in a series of round table discussions, and will be followed by consultations on the technical specifications towards harmonization.

The ambition is to formulate a continental strategy and set up an action plan for the necessary reforms, with the ultimate goal of creating an enabling regulatory environment for electricity market development in Africa.

The initiative is supported by the European Union (EU)whose representative, Mrs. Anna Burylo, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the African Union, said during the opening session of the workshop: “Policy and regulatory reforms are a prerequisite to facilitate investment from both public and private sources. Policy and regulatory frameworks should ensure stability, transparency and a degree of predictability, while balancing macro-economic and consumer interests.”

Continental and regional integration, in particular through the development of regional infrastructure and markets, is one of the key components in the vision of the African union Commission, of an ‘integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a driving force in the global arena’.

The Director of the Department for Infrastructure and Energy of the AUC,Mr. Aboubakari BABA MOUSSA,, mentioned at the opening that the "harmonized continental regulatory framework for the energy sector in Africa"is one of the fundamental requirements for creating conducive environment for private sector investment in the energy projects and creation of vibrant energy market. This is  one of the flagship projects of the Agenda 2063 of the African Union and is being implemented by the AUC in collaboration with the European Union .Having a harmonized regulatory framework will go a long way to to support  the INGA Project which is another flagship of Agenda 2063 and the extension of  transmission lines to the Eastern, Southern Western and Northern Africa regions. This will put the corner stones in establishing regional/continental energy markets ,and connecting Africa together . The director highlighted also the importance of sharing energy information and data among the African Countries to accelerate the development of  the African Energy Market .