African School of Regulation launches to speed up energy transition
The African School of Regulation initiative has been launched to better regulate the African energy sector in support of the continent’s socio-economic development and environmental sustainability.
The initiative is a result of a partnership between the Enel Foundation, the European University Institute (EUI), the University of Cape Town (UCT), the Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES), and the Energy Nexus Network (TENN).
The initiative will encourage partnerships between governments, regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders on knowledge sharing, technology and business cases research and development and on policy development and implementation.
The aim is to accelerate the energy transition and ensure that it is just, inclusive and cost-effective.
A virtual Knowledge Hub will be established for energy stakeholders to share their knowledge and experience on a particular field or topic.
Kandeh Yumkella, founder and CEO of TENN, said: “The launch of the African School of Regulation is a testament to our collective efforts to support Africa’s drive to achieving SDG7 with particular emphasis on universal access to modern energy services for all.”
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Yumkella said there is a need for Africa to introduce policies that would help attract investments required to improve the region’s energy infrastructure and enable the achievement of energy sustainability, access and affordability goals whilst ensuring security and climate change mitigation.
The initiative will be implemented in two phases with the first phase focusing on the development of training programmes and the deployment of research mechanisms and policy discussions by industry stakeholders.
Hosting institutions will be identified and modalities for the governance of the African School of Regulation established as part of the first phase. The modalities will include developing a financing plan.
UCT Professor Anton Eberhard, added: “This will be an opportunity to build on our existing training courses on power sector reform and regulation, through widening the range and reach of activities in support of the energy transition, and the provision of sustainable, reliable and affordable energy services.”
Phase two will see the transfer of the management and operations of the African School of Regulation to the identified institution(s) under new governance.
Professor Abdellatif Zerga from PAUWES added: “ASR will contribute extensively to energy transition as addressed in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union. PAUWES will contribute to build and strengthen capacities, support African Union’s organs and members states in the uptake, localization, and adaptation of ASR outputs towards the provision of reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for everyone in the African continent.”
