Energy policy and regulatory guidelines could be among these tools that materialize energy reliability at an affordable cost by providing a set of plans and frameworks that regulate energy supply and demand.
1) The COMESA Model Energy Policy Framework
The COMESA Council of Ministers at its Meeting held in Lusaka in November, 2007 adopted the COMESA Model Energy Policy Framework which was developed by the COMESA Secretariat.
The main thrust of the COMESA Model Energy Policy Framework is to provide the COMESA member States with harmonized guidelines that would facilitate energy policy harmonization in the COMESA region in efforts to improve efficiency and increased investment.
Specific objective of this Model Energy Policy Framework is to provide an outline of contents expected in National Energy Policy, which countries can then adopt and/or customize, therefore, harmonizing policies in the spirit of regional integration.
The main energy policy goal is to meet the energy needs, in an environmentally sustainable manner, through providing an adequate and reliable supply of energy at least cost; to support social and economic development and sustainable economic growth and also to improve the quality of life of the people.
Energy policy objectives of this model energy policy framework include improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the modern energy supply industries; improving the security and reliability of energy supply systems; increasing access to affordable and modern energy services as a contribution to poverty reduction; establishing the availability, potential and demand of the various energy resources; stimulating economic development; improving energy sector governance and administration; managing environmental, safety, and health impacts of energy production and utilization; and mitigating the impact of high energy prices on vulnerable consumers.
The COMESA Model Energy Policy Framework focuses on key issues in the energy sector; supply and demand; side policy objectives and policy instruments; and cross cutting issues.
This Model Energy Policy Framework is a flexible policy guideline which is expected to provide a framework for COMESA member States to customize their policies based on the country’s specific socio-economic considerations and circumstances.
2) The Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa (RAERESA)
COMESA, on 16th March 2009, established a Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa (RAERESA).
Main objectives of (RAERESA) include the following:
- enhance the increasing integration of energy systems and energy trade in the COMESA region and beyond through the facilitation of harmonized energy policy, legislation and regulations for cross-border trading focusing on terms and conditions for access to transmission capacity and cross-border tariffs;
- facilitate energy capacity-building among Member at both a national and regional level through information sharing and skills training; and
- deliberate and make recommendations on issues affecting the economic efficiency of energy interconnections and energy trade among members on issues that fall outside national jurisdiction.