2 African Energy Challenges in the Transition Era …
61
Harmonization goes beyond the formation of regional institutions
like the Regional Electricity Regulators Association of Southern Africa
(RERA) and the Ecowas Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency (ECREEE). Instead, harmonization (i.e. compatibility) of
national regulatory systems with the development of regulatory and
policy guidelines that foster regional cooperation in achieving energy
access should be encouraged.
66 The absence of a harmonized regulatory,
policy frameworks constrains efficient cross-border deals. This is because
of the unclear or complicated processes that characterize decision-making
at the national level’s energy landscape. These decisions focus more
on large-scale/long-term transaction solutions rather than a mediumscale/short-scale transaction which will help revamp the nascent energy
landscape.
The energy design strategy for both SADC and ECOWAS are characterized by numerous bottlenecks that have continuously constrained
energy access and efficiency of energy systems. They include: different
licensing regimes in terms of the types and content of licenses, and the
non-recognition of licenses across borders; huge disparity in rules and
standards for metering; the absence of cross-border dispute settlement
mechanism; disparity in energy tariffs especially for transmission aimed
at ensuring cost-reflective tariffs; no clear mechanisms for managing
transmission losses at the regional level; different rules applicable to
grid access connection to the available networks; individual countries are
saddled with the huge role of coordinating generation and transmission
asset development and no uniformity in setting grid code at individual
Member State.
67
From a regional cooperative perspective, the implementation of
regional plans and strategies must arise as priorities for the region first,
accompanied by a harmonizing framework that reflects great disparities
66 EC Sichone, Creation of Multi-National Electricity Markets by Furthering Cross-Border Trading
of Electricity, AFUR Workshop, 2016.
67 A Scott, ‘Building Electricity Supplies in Africa for Growth and Universal Access: New
Climate Economy’, The New Climate Economy—Working Paper (London and Washington,
DC, 2015), http://newclimateeconomy.report/misc/working-papers, accessed March 21, 2020.
61
Harmonization goes beyond the formation of regional institutions
like the Regional Electricity Regulators Association of Southern Africa
(RERA) and the Ecowas Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency (ECREEE). Instead, harmonization (i.e. compatibility) of
national regulatory systems with the development of regulatory and
policy guidelines that foster regional cooperation in achieving energy
access should be encouraged.
66 The absence of a harmonized regulatory,
policy frameworks constrains efficient cross-border deals. This is because
of the unclear or complicated processes that characterize decision-making
at the national level’s energy landscape. These decisions focus more
on large-scale/long-term transaction solutions rather than a mediumscale/short-scale transaction which will help revamp the nascent energy
landscape.
The energy design strategy for both SADC and ECOWAS are characterized by numerous bottlenecks that have continuously constrained
energy access and efficiency of energy systems. They include: different
licensing regimes in terms of the types and content of licenses, and the
non-recognition of licenses across borders; huge disparity in rules and
standards for metering; the absence of cross-border dispute settlement
mechanism; disparity in energy tariffs especially for transmission aimed
at ensuring cost-reflective tariffs; no clear mechanisms for managing
transmission losses at the regional level; different rules applicable to
grid access connection to the available networks; individual countries are
saddled with the huge role of coordinating generation and transmission
asset development and no uniformity in setting grid code at individual
Member State.
67
From a regional cooperative perspective, the implementation of
regional plans and strategies must arise as priorities for the region first,
accompanied by a harmonizing framework that reflects great disparities
66 EC Sichone, Creation of Multi-National Electricity Markets by Furthering Cross-Border Trading
of Electricity, AFUR Workshop, 2016.
67 A Scott, ‘Building Electricity Supplies in Africa for Growth and Universal Access: New
Climate Economy’, The New Climate Economy—Working Paper (London and Washington,
DC, 2015), http://newclimateeconomy.report/misc/working-papers, accessed March 21, 2020.