The Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Energy and Water Sector Convened Yesterday, May 27
The opening session of the Joint Meeting of the Committee of Ministers Responsible for the Energy and Water Sectors was held yesterday, May 27, 2024.
The event was chaired by Minister João Baptista Borges, who highlighted that the meeting aims to discuss and prepare critical matters for consideration and approval by the Committees of Ministers Responsible for Energy and Water.
In the Energy Sector, deliberations will focus on progress made following decisions from the previous ministerial meeting, energy supply security, advancements in SADC’s priority areas for sustainable development in the regional energy sector, and a proposal to develop a Regional Transport Infrastructure Financing Mechanism (RTIFF).
The ministerial meeting will also review progress in signing the amended SADC Protocol on Energy of 1996, regional regulatory initiatives in the energy sector, and strengthening national energy regulators and the RERA (Regional Electricity Regulators Association) as a precursor to a Regional Regulatory Authority. Furthermore, the meeting will examine the promotion of new and renewable energy sources, the operationalization of SACREEE (SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency) as a legal entity, progress in signing and ratifying SACREEE IGMOA, and discussions on transitioning to cleaner fuels, including low-sulfur diesel in the region. The ministers will also discuss a proposal and concept for a Just Energy Transition for the SADC region.
In the Water Sector, the Ministers will deliberate on progress achieved in regional initiatives aimed at improving water and sanitation services in SADC member states, as well as transboundary water projects led by basin organizations. They will also assess progress in financing and developing regional water infrastructure, including transboundary water facilities.
Additionally, the ministers will review the implementation of the second phase of the regional groundwater program, supported by the SADC Water Fund and other partners, as well as initiatives on the combined water-energy-food project implementation in member states.
The discussions will include updates on ongoing work to revise regional water policies and develop a regional resource mobilization strategy for the water sector.
It is worth noting that SADC (Southern African Development Community) is an organization comprising sixteen (16) member states. It was established in 1980 as the Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference and later transformed into the Southern African Development Community in August 1992.
The Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Energy and Water will be preceded by the meeting of sector experts from May 27 to 31, 2024.
Information Technology, Institutional Communication, and Press Office of the Ministry of Energy and Water, Luanda, May 28, 2024 João Baptista Borges João Baptista Borges
