AfDB Extends $2.5m In Grant To Support Electricity Market

August 7, 2021
Electricity
Electricity

AFRICAN development bank has approved $2.5 million grant to promote intra-regional harmonization of electricity regulations and drive cross border trading among African countries.

The Board of the African Bank Group will be sourcing the grants from the African Development Fund, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) will receive grants worth $1,500,000 while South African Development Community (SADC) well receive grants of up to $1,000,000.

Join our WhatsApp Channel

“The purpose of the grants is to help promote the development and adoption of electricity regulatory principle that will enhance capacity to monitor utility performance across the region, conduct a cross border analysis of electricity tariffs and develop a centralized database for management system of both blocs.

“The projects promises to contribute to ensure soft infrastructure requirements for the development of a regional power market are addressed to complement investments in hard infrastructure that the Bank and other development partners are making in the region,” Dr. Mahamedain Seif Elnasr, Chief Executive Officer (RAERESA) said.

Mr Elijah Sichone Executive Director (RERA) said, “these two projects will be implemented through a combination of studies, capacity building and development of tools with the objective to facilitate the harmonization of regulatory frameworks across SADC and COMESA regions to enhance electricity trade among SADC member states as well as improve access”.

The projects will be implemented through Regional Association for Eastern and Southern Africa(RAERESA) and Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa(RERA) respectively

Despite SADC having the highest generation capacity of all African regions and ample water, biomass, solar, wind energy potential and energy access within the bloc, particularly in rural areas, is low. This is because of an inadequate regulatory environment, a move away from reliance on coal and hydropower.

COMESA member countries also face inadequate infrastrural problems, uncompetitive electricity tariffs and an overreliance on on traditional fuel sources such as wood and charcoal, even though there is an immense untapped energy potential which includes hydropower in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, as well as solar and wind and geothermal reserves in Kenya and Uganda.

+ posts

Featured Stories

Latest from News

Tinubu Constitutes Taskforce to Revamp Petroleum Industry

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a Presidential Petroleum Reform and Value Optimisation Taskforce to plan the next stage of reforms in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. Mr Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank and founder of the Fate Foundation, was appointed chairman of

Cuba Signals Readiness for Dialogue with United States

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reaffirmed his country’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, saying any talks must be based on equality, mutual respect, and recognition of national sovereignty. Speaking at a high-level meeting with members of the Communist Party’s
WhatsApp Image 2021 08 06 at 12.11.14 AM
Previous Story

PhD Candidates At UNN Pay Tribute To Late Dr Ekwueme

Kano Court Removes Ganduje As APC Chairman, Affirms Suspension
Next Story

Kano Government Slashes Land Use Charges By 30%

Don't Miss

Fuel Price War Intensifies As Landing Cost Drops To N774

Why Petrol Price Reduction Will Continue Until June – Rewane

Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, has
Nigerdock

Nigerdock Honours Long-serving Employees

Nigerdock Limited, a leading maritime company and operators of the