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Africa’s leading power utilities and energy regulators have announced a joint commitment to the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), a historic step toward building a unified power grid that will connect the continent’s 55 nations under one harmonized market by 2040.
The announcement was made following a high-level technical meeting organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Energy Commission (AFREC), with participation from the five regional power pools — West African Power Pool (WAPP), East African Power Pool (EAPP), Central African Power Pool (CAPP), Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), and COMELEC from North Africa. Together, these entities have pledged to align regulations, infrastructure investments, and cross-border electricity trade frameworks to accelerate AfSEM’s operational phase.
AfSEM, launched in 2021 as part of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to create the world’s largest electricity market, enabling reliable, affordable, and sustainable power access across Africa. Once fully operational, the market will allow countries with energy surpluses to export power to those facing shortages, unlocking renewable energy potential and boosting regional industries.
The initiative will also build on Mission 300, a World Bank and AfDB-backed program seeking to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. Recent financing pledges — including $6 billion from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) — signal growing confidence in Africa’s energy integration goals.
Speaking on the new momentum, Dr. Abdoulaye Dia, Executive Secretary of the West African Power Pool, noted that the alignment among utilities is “a defining moment for Africa’s energy future.” He added that AfSEM would not only ensure energy security but also “create an integrated platform that supports industrial growth, trade, and digital innovation.”
Experts believe AfSEM could reduce average electricity costs by up to 30 percent, attract billions in renewable energy investment, and enable the continent to tap into its 1,200 GW renewable potential — from solar-rich Sahel to hydro-abundant Congo.
However, stakeholders emphasize that regional infrastructure gaps, inconsistent regulatory frameworks, and political coordination remain significant challenges. Despite these hurdles, the unified stance by utilities marks a crucial turning point — one that could redefine Africa’s economic destiny through energy cooperation.
If realized, AfSEM will make Africa not just a continent of power consumers, but of power producers — connected, resilient, and future-driven.
The announcement was made following a high-level technical meeting organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Energy Commission (AFREC), with participation from the five regional power pools — West African Power Pool (WAPP), East African Power Pool (EAPP), Central African Power Pool (CAPP), Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), and COMELEC from North Africa. Together, these entities have pledged to align regulations, infrastructure investments, and cross-border electricity trade frameworks to accelerate AfSEM’s operational phase.
AfSEM, launched in 2021 as part of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to create the world’s largest electricity market, enabling reliable, affordable, and sustainable power access across Africa. Once fully operational, the market will allow countries with energy surpluses to export power to those facing shortages, unlocking renewable energy potential and boosting regional industries.
The initiative will also build on Mission 300, a World Bank and AfDB-backed program seeking to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. Recent financing pledges — including $6 billion from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) — signal growing confidence in Africa’s energy integration goals.
Speaking on the new momentum, Dr. Abdoulaye Dia, Executive Secretary of the West African Power Pool, noted that the alignment among utilities is “a defining moment for Africa’s energy future.” He added that AfSEM would not only ensure energy security but also “create an integrated platform that supports industrial growth, trade, and digital innovation.”
Experts believe AfSEM could reduce average electricity costs by up to 30 percent, attract billions in renewable energy investment, and enable the continent to tap into its 1,200 GW renewable potential — from solar-rich Sahel to hydro-abundant Congo.
However, stakeholders emphasize that regional infrastructure gaps, inconsistent regulatory frameworks, and political coordination remain significant challenges. Despite these hurdles, the unified stance by utilities marks a crucial turning point — one that could redefine Africa’s economic destiny through energy cooperation.
If realized, AfSEM will make Africa not just a continent of power consumers, but of power producers — connected, resilient, and future-driven.