The African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) Brings Africa Closer to Energy Security

As this month sees the first UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy in forty years, energy and sustainability in Africa are high on the continental agenda. By launching the largest single electricity market on the globe, Africa has shown its intent to work towards lasting sustainability. The African Union (AU) launched the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) on 3 June 2021.

In an opinion piece for Euractiv, Johan van den Berg, Head of Secretariat at the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) explores how this bold initiative reflects the well-established energy partnership between Africa and Europe. AfSEM has leveraged lessons learnt in Europe and applied them in Africa through the work of the EU Technical Assistance Facility. The implementation of AfSEM has the potential to change the lives of more than 1.3 billion people in the 55 African Union Member States by facilitating cheaper, reliable and renewable electricity.

Van den Berg concludes that the AU Member States have an immense task ahead with harmonising regulatory frameworks and integrating generation, transmission and distribution masterplans, but that the launch of the AfSEM in itself is already a success.

Read the full article at Euractiv.