ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 16, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
African energy stakeholders met at a 5-days for the “2nd Africa Smart Grid Forum and 5th African Electro-technical and Standardisation Commission (AFSEC) General Assembly” to develop cooperation at the continental level, towards the development of Smart Grids on the continent and to support AFSEC to achieve its mandate in key areas such as awareness creation, especially in the national levels on the importance of standardization, accreditation and measurement.
The aim of the Africa Smart Grids Forum is to continue building awareness and frameworks to promote the utilisation of Smart Grid solutions in the African electricity sector with a view to developing renewable energy and enhancing the efficiencies of electricity systems on the continent. The 2nd Africa Smart Grids Forum was attended by more than 300 Technical Experts from 48 African countries, African Regional Centres, Private Sector and Civil Society
The 2nd Africa Smart Grids Forum and Exhibition was opened by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of the Arab Republic of Egypt and H.E Dr. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, the African Union Commission.
H.E. Dr. Elham Ibrahim mentioned at the opening that “utilising Smart Grids provides one of the technical solutions to the challenges facing the African energy sector and this will support the implementation of the African Union Agenda2063 on universal energy access for all Africans”. Commissioner Dr. Elham IBRAHIM and H.E. Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of the Arab Republic of Egypt and highlighted in their speeches that almost 600 million out of the1.1 billion people in Africa still lack access to electricity and smart grids provide an important option to increase the share of renewable energy in the grid systems and decrease the losses in transmission and distribution.
The 5th AFSEC General Assembly opened on 9 March 2016 by the Chairman of the Egyptian National Committee, AFSEC President, the Executive Director of the African Energy Commission (AFREC) and the African Union Commission (AUC).
Dr. Claud Katoua, President of AFSEC noted the increasing recognition of AFSEC by African stakeholders and called on the African Union Commission and Member States to continue providing support to AFSEC.
Mr. Atef Marzouk, Acting Head of Energy at the Department of Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission highlighted the support the African Union to ensure the operationalization of AFSEC and recommended increasing the memberships of AFSEC. Mr. Marzouk also called for organisations to support AFSEC in its activities at the continental and national levels.
