by Richard Nyamanhindi – SANF 08 No 32
Regional energy ministers have agreed to revive the regional energy planning network to compliment the energy recovery roadmap established a few weeks ago to address the power shortages facing the region.
The plan will contain prioritised programmes and activities’ covering the entire energy sector and is to be reviewed every five years.
It seeks to integrate energy conservation, regional energy linkages, Biomass Energy Conservation and Power Surplus Capacity utilisation among others as measures to mitigate energy shortages.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers responsible for energy, who met in Kinshasa, DRC at the end of April, also noted the importance of reviving the Energy Planning and Environmental Management Training Programme, which ended in February 2008.
The meeting was chaired by Zambia’s Minister of Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga and was preceded by a preparatory meeting of regional Senior Energy Officials on 28 and 29 April.
Of particular interest was the fact that the energy ministers took note of the difficulties that the region is experiencing towards the fulfilment of its mandate of providing reliable and affordable energy to its people which was particularly fuelled by the diminished installed capacity in the power sector.
The ministers regretted the energy paradox where the region is experiencing energy shortfalls against the backdrop of enormous energy resources.
In light of these problems the ministers reviewed the SADC Regional Energy Programme, particularly taking into cognisance the forthcoming energy consultative meeting later in the year, which is meant to update the SADC Energy Activity Plan that will be implemented by December 2008.
“The plan would contain prioritised programmes and activities covering the entire energy sector that includes conservation and increasing capacity and would be reviewed every five years,” a press statement by the Ministers after the meeting noted.
Furthermore the ministers deliberated on the energy activities geared towards the revival of the Regional Energy Planning Network, were the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and individual national utilities will develop a plan on energy usage and conservation.
However, in view of the significance of alternative sources of energy such as biomass in the energy supply mix, the ministers directed the SADC Secretariat to work towards consolidating efforts to identify funding for the proposed Phase IV, which is meant to ensure energy service delivery and environmental management at the rural level.
The Ministers appreciated that the Programme for Biomass Energy Conservation (ProBEC) also plays a vital role in ensuring efficient use of biomass resources in the region.
In noting the rising petroleum prices, the SADC Energy Ministers directed that an elaborate regional bio-fuels programme be instituted immediately.
They further directed that the Secretariat should facilitate dialogue of the SADC Ministers responsible for Energy, Lands and Agriculture in order to resolve the topical and in some instances controversial issues surrounding the conflict between production of crops for food versus fuel.
It was agreed that a meeting involving Ministers responsible for the three sectors should be convened as soon as possible to develop an appropriate policy and regulatory framework for bio-fuels in the region.
Of particular concern to the Ministers was also the report of the Ministerial Taskforce, which met in Botswana in February, to overcome diminished power surplus capacity in the region.
The ministers reviewed the regional harmonised framework on Power Conservation Programme, which was developed based on the experiences of the SAPP, RERA and ESKOM as well as experiences of other Member States, and directed that the SAPP should coordinate the implementation of the programme across the region.
The Ministers also reviewed progress made on the Tariff Study and the review of the Pool Plan.
The Ministers having deliberated on the status of the Power Surplus Capacity in the Region noted the following:
- Available capacity in April 2008 was 47,067 MW vis a vis available capacity of 43,518 in December 2007;
- An improvement of 8 percent in available capacity between December 2007 and April 2008 has been achieved;
- The difference between installed and available capacity is currently about 8,000 MW;
- A total of about 1,700MW was commissioned in 2007 in Angola, South Africa and Swaziland against a target of 1,925MW;
- In 2008, SAPP has planned to commission 1,757MW against a planned target of 2,014MW;
- Long-term projects shall be implemented between 2008 and 2025 and shall provide additional power amounting to 44 000 Mega Watts, at a cost of US$ 41.5 billion.
In view of the above situation, the Ministers considered and approved the structures proposed to accelerate implementation of power projects, which include project teams, comprising of utilities and independent players in the power supply industry.
They also noted the need to strengthen existing structures such as the Energy Ministerial Task Force, the SADC Secretariat, and subsidiary institutions of SADC such as SAPP and RERA.
At the closure of their meeting the Ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the SADC Secretariat particularly the implementation and monitoring procedures, which should put the region in a good position to overcome the diminished SADC power surplus capacity.
The Ministers noted that the next meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on Energy will be held in South Africa in December 2008.
