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Harmonizing the Electricity Markets in Africa: An Overview of the Continental Policy and Institutional Framework towards the African Single Electricity Market

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  • George Kyriakarakos

    (Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology (iBO), Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (CERTH), 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Rd, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

Africa is a huge continent with an area equal to 30,244,049 km 2 and a population of over 1.3 bn. According to the World Energy Outlook 2021, the electrification rate for Sub-Saharan Africa is at 79% for urban areas and only 28% for the rural areas. Given the low electricity infrastructure in Africa in production, transmission and distribution as well as the very low access in rural areas, it is understood that coordinated activities must take place for both on-grid and off-grid electrification activities, if the targets set for 2030 are to be met. This paper aims to present the challenges faced in the harmonization of the electricity markets in Africa due to the complexities of political continental integration, as well as continental economic integration, by performing a review of the progress made so far. It is one of the few efforts that have aimed to present in a single document the institutional framework of the electricity sector in Africa, and how these institutions collaborate in order to form and deploy policies at the continental and regional levels, affecting ultimately the deployment of policies at the national level. It also presents the current status of the continental electricity market policy framework activities towards the achievement of the 2030 goals in line with Agenda 2063, and the crucial role the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) is set to play. Finally, it provides lessons learnt and recommendations on facilitating the way forward in terms of the institutional actors’ collaboration, both for Africa and globally, in terms of developing regional energy markets.

Suggested Citation

  • George Kyriakarakos, 2022. "Harmonizing the Electricity Markets in Africa: An Overview of the Continental Policy and Institutional Framework towards the African Single Electricity Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10924-:d:904086
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mr. Mohamad Ali Finaish & Eric Bell, 1994. "The Arab Maghreb Union," IMF Working Papers 1994/055, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Christopher Changwe Nshimbi & Lorenzo Fioramonti, 2014. "The Will to Integrate: South Africa's Responses to Regional Migration from the SADC Region," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 26(S1), pages 52-63, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rubanda, Muhumuza Ezra & Senyonga, Livingstone & Ngoma, Mohammed & Adaramola, Muyiwa S., 2023. "Energy market integration: Harmonizing tariff recourse policies in East Africa," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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