COMESA to launch electricity project for member countries Tuesday

A project to enhance the sustainability of the electricity sector through effective, transparent and enforceable regulatory frameworks in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region is set for launch on Tuesday next week.

The specific objective of the Energy Harmonisation project is to harmonise and align regulatory frameworks to facilitate electricity exchanges among COMESA member countries.

The project will ultimately enhance electricity trade among COMESA countries.

It has funding through a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) of US$1,500,000.

According to the project brief, the initiative would will contribute to harmonised regulatory frameworks in COMESA, enhanced utility performance monitoring framework, enhanced migration towards cost reflectivity of tariffs and harmonized tariff frameworks and improved and secured energy data collection, storage and dissemination.

“The Project seeks to provide tools for harmonising regulatory frameworks to facilitate the smooth and timely completion, and utilisation/operation of regional energy infrastructure.

“This will further enhance regional electricity trade which is critical to COMESA, a region that hosts two major power pools – Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and the East African Power Pool (EAPP),” according to the brief.

The project reports is expected to also provide relevant knowledge, data and insight on critical issues in the sector with respect to economic regulation, including tariff analysis and models, and quality of service regulation in terms of utility performance measures.

“Notwithstanding the modest gains made under the COMESA Energy Programme, numerous legal and regulatory obstacles constrain power sector investments and regional power trade within COMESA Member States.

“The COMESA countries face enormous challenges in harmonizing sector regulations across the region including harmonised approach to tariffs (including wheeling charges),” it stated.

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