Energy and electricity company leaders from Central Africa have gathered in Kigali to strategize on collaborative efforts aimed at expanding electricity access to underserved populations and meeting modern energy demands, a critical issue given the region’s low electrification rates.
The statutory meeting of the Steering Committee of the Central African Power Pool brought together key players in the region’s energy sector.
This crucial meeting facilitated discussions on the future of energy in Central Africa, where, according to Statista, only approximately 31% of the population had access to electricity in 2021.
This figure underscores the immense challenge facing the region, particularly when compared to other parts of Africa.
“Yes, we are in the era of renewable energy,” stated a representative. “It is important that in addition to our existing products and core transmission networks, renewable energy sources complement what we already have.
This is crucial. I believe that renewable energy will especially help promote areas gain access to electricity and increase electrification rates in our sub-region.”
The Executive Sector of the Central African Power Pool, Atarade, emphasized that the conference serves as a vital platform for strengthening cooperation among energy and electricity companies in the region.
By uniting efforts, enhancing technical cooperation, and facilitating electricity trade between member countries, the region aims to make significant progress. Notably, countries like the Central African Republic struggle with access rates as low as 14.3% according to the World Bank.
The Managing Director of the Energy Utility Corporation Limited highlighted Rwanda’s membership in the organization as a significant opportunity.
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It enables Rwanda to implement regional projects related to the interconnection of electrical grids and improve the management of the regional energy market.
Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, stated that the forum members’ meeting is an important step towards finding solutions to the challenges faced by citizens who still lack access to electricity. He also highlighted the importance of innovation and digitalization.
“The future of the electricity sector also depends on innovation and digitalization,” Gasore said. “The development of smart grids, the automation of energy management systems, and data utilization for better planning must be among our priorities.
Power companies must invest more in these technologies to enhance operational efficiency and improve service quality for customers. Today, we have a historic responsibility to build a reliable, competitive, and sustainable regional electricity market for Central Africa.”
The cost of electricity in Central Africa is affected by several factors, including the state of existing infrastructure, reliance on expensive fuel sources, and insufficient investment. In many areas, the cost remains prohibitively high, further hindering access.
Rural areas face particular challenges, with significantly lower access rates due to the high costs associated with infrastructure development and dispersed populations.
This meeting, the 26th of its kind, is taking place in Rwanda with the primary goal of collaboratively exploring ways to expand and strengthen cross-border electricity infrastructure, ensuring it meets the growing needs of the member countries within the forum.
The focus remains on addressing the stark disparities in electricity access and paving the way for a more electrified and prosperous Central Africa.
