The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) have agreed to jointly develop a blueprint for a pan-continental electricity network and market.



The agreement to set up a Continental Power System Master Plan between the Bank and AUDA-NEPAD was recently unveiled during a three-day workshop on the sidelines of Programme for Infrastructure Development (PIDA) Week held in Cairo, reports ESI-Africa.

"The Continental Power System Master Plan will ensure that competitive electricity markets are developed at regional and continental levels, creating unique opportunities to optimally utilise Africa's vast energy resources for the benefit of Africa," said Professor Mosad Elmissiry, a senior energy advisor to AUDA-NEPAD's CEO.

The workshop was aimed at advancing the launch of an Integrated Continental Transmission Network to link national power utilities into regional power pools and, ultimately, into a continent-wide transmission network.

Development of a unified electricity transmission network and market for electricity trading are viewed as a critical priority to improve the lives of people across the African continent.

Source: ESI-Africa