Algiers, 22 May 2019– The African Union Commission and the Ministry of foreign Affair of People's Democratic Republic of Algeria have signed the Host Country Agreement of African Energy Commission (AFREC). The Host Agreement was signed by the AU Commission Legal Counsel of Ambassador Dr. Namira Negm and Algeria’s General Director of the Protocol, Mr. Magramane Lounes that will see the African Energy Commission headquartered in Algiers, Algeria

The African Energy Commission is a technical Agency of the African Union responsible for supporting the African energy sector’s functions of developing and managing energy resources across the continent. Its mandate is to promote cooperation, research and development on energy issues as well as supporting integration, harmonization and resource mobilization for energy programmes.

Access to energy is an essential component of economic and social development in its contribution to industrialization, poverty reduction, rural planning and sustainable development.
AFREC was created by Decision of the OAU African Heads of States and Governments in 2001, and officially launched by the African Union Executive Council in 2008 through the “Algiers Declaration”. Thirty seven (37) African countries have ratified and deposited the convention of AFREC with the AU Commission. Other countries are at different stages of ratification.
As per the convention, AFREC is mandated to:
- Develop policies, strategies, researches and plans based on Member states, sub-regional, regional and continental development priorities and recommend their implementation;
- Design, create and update an energy continental database and facilitate rapid dissemination of information and exchange of information among Member States, sub-regional, regional and continental institution;
- Provide technical support, mobilize financial and technical support, provide capacity building to the Member States, sub-regional, regional and continental institution for the energy sector;
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Bladehane Rachid, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, and Mr. Rashid Abdallah, Executive Director of AFREC, and the Director of International Cooperation of Ministry of Energy, among others.

For more information contact:
Mr. Abdoulaye Oueddo, Energy Information System Expert, African Energy Commission (AFREC); E-mail: Oueddoa@africa-union.org.