Egypt, Cairo: Power utility representatives from across Africa convened at the 21st Congress of the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) to advance the vision of the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), a landmark initiative to create a unified continental power grid by 2040.
The gathering focused on transforming Africa’s energy landscape through cross-border electricity trade, policy harmonisation, and sustainable infrastructure investment. Delegates emphasised that AfSEM will connect the continent’s five regional power pools through a Continental Master Plan (CMP) that integrates national grids into a single electricity market.
“Between 2030 and 2040, we need to begin connecting power pools,” said Abel Didier Tella, Director General of APUA, underscoring the urgency of moving from policy to implementation. Stephen Dihwa, Executive Director of the Southern African Power Pool, noted ongoing progress: “Tanzania and Zambia will soon be connected – a step closer to trading electrons across Africa.”
The AfSEM framework, aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, was endorsed by AU Heads of State in 2021 and supported by the European Union and regional energy bodies. According to Shehu Ibrahim Khaleel, AfSEM Coordinator, Phase III of the CMP has been completed, marking the first fully harmonised continental investment blueprint. It identifies priority corridors for interconnection, with potential to generate $136 B in annual electricity trade by 2040.
Henry Paul Batchi of the African Development Bank stressed that transparency, funding mobilisation, and policy alignment with climate goals will be key to success.
As the groundwork continues, the AfSEM initiative represents a crucial step toward a connected, resilient, and sustainable African energy future.
Source: ESI Africa
