MEDIA ADVISORY
Launching of the African Single Electricity Market
INVITATION FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

What: Launching of the Single African Electricity Market (AfSEM)

Who: Organized by the African Union Commission through its Department of
Infrastructure and Energy.

When: Thursday 3rd June 2021 (12:00-13:00 EAT)
Where: Through online zoom:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApc-irqTktHdwsvWb0eTJ75W3_cspi3bgQ

Objectives:
a) The official launching AfSEM.
b) Understand, promote and popularize the AfSEM initiative to the stakeholders, MS and global community.
c) Raise awareness on the significance of AfSEM for the electricity market in Africa
d) Disseminate – share experiences with the EU on the dynamics of building a strong integrated electricity market.
e) Prepare blueprint for the Continental Power Master plan
Agenda:
The ceremony will start with a brief video giving an overview of the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) followed by statements of the AU and EU Commissioners in charge of energy. The CEO of AUDA-NEPAD and the AfDB Vice President in charge of Power, Energy, Climate & Green Growth will also speak during the opening. AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities will get an opportunity express support to champion AfSEM. The climax of the event will be the keynote address and the official launching of of AfSEM by the AUC Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Participants:
• Approximately 200 participants are expected to attend the virtual event, comprising the following:
• Ministries/ers in charge of Energy and Power from AU Member States.
• RECs, Power Pools, Regional Regulators, Regional Centres for Renewable energy and Energy Efficiency.
• AU Continental Energy Institutions (AFREC, AFSEC, APUA, AFUR and AREI).
• EU and EU institutions, EUDs to AU, and EUDs to AU Member States.
• Development partners, development financial institutions.
• International Organisations and Institutions (IEA, IRENA, IAEA, UNECA, UNIDO, UNEP, UNDP, WB, kfW, FDA and more).
• Private Sector and Civil Society Organisations.
• Media.
Worth noting that, the hashtags for the launching ceremony are:
#AfSEM
#OneElectricityMarket
Journalists are invited to cover the launching ceremony on 3rd June 2021 using provided zoom and live stream link above.
Note to Editor:

About the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM)
The Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) is one of those targeted interventions aimed to facilitate sustainable development of the African electricity sector through the integrated continental electricity market based on the 2019 AfCFTA Agreement. The goal is to give African households, businesses and industries more secure, sustainable, reliable, competitive, and affordable energy.

The journey to create AfSEM at the continental level started in 2015 in cooperation with the EU through the AU programme on Harmonisation of Regulatory Frameworks for the Electricity Market in Africa. In addition to a series of products over the five year-period, the AfSEM Policy Paper, the Roadmap, and the governance structure were prepared by a team of EU-TAF Experts coordinated by the Department of Infrastructure and Energy, validated by RECs, Power Pools and other Pan African Energy Institutions and adopted by the AU Head of States at the 34th AU-Summit in in February, 2021.

AfSEM is designed to bring greater energy security, sustainability, and competitiveness to the Africa Union Member States, it will be the largest single electricity market in the world covering 55-member states serving a population of over 1.3 billion, AfSEM will be the most cost-efficient response for strong growth of electricity demand in Africa, most essential tool to use the full potential of the continent’s Renewable Energy Sources, and an effective accelerator to 100% access of electricity in the continent.

For further information relating to this event, following staff can be contacted: Mr. Atef Marzouk Acting Director, Infrastructure and Energy Department, African Union Commission Email: MarzoukA@africa-union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head of Information Division | Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | Mobile: +251911361185 | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org
2. Mr. Molalet Tsedeke | Media and Communication Officer | Directorate of Information and Communications (DIC) | E-mail: MolaletT@africa-union.org

For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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