Joint Meeting of Ministers in Charge of Energy and Water Sectors Held on May 27
The Joint Meeting of the Committee of Ministers responsible for the Energy and Water Sectors commenced on May 27, 2024.
Chaired by Minister João Baptista Borges, the event underscored the importance of discussing critical issues and preparing key matters for review and approval by the respective Committees for Energy and Water.
In the Energy Sector, the ministers will review progress since the last ministerial meeting, focus on energy supply security, and assess developments in SADC’s priority areas for the sustainable development of the regional energy sector. They will also consider the proposal to create a Regional Transport Infrastructure Financing Mechanism (RTIFF).
The discussions will include updates on the revision of the SADC Protocol on Energy (1996), regional regulatory initiatives, and strengthening the role of national energy regulators and the Regional Electricity Regulators Association (RERA) to establish a Regional Regulatory Authority. Other topics will include the promotion of new and renewable energy sources, the formalization of SACREEE (SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency) as a legal entity, the signing and ratification of SACREEE IGMOA, and the region’s transition to cleaner fuels, such as low-sulfur diesel. A proposal for a Just Energy Transition for the SADC region will also be presented.
In the Water Sector, the ministers will examine regional efforts to improve water and sanitation services in SADC member states and evaluate transboundary water projects managed by basin organizations. They will also review the progress made in financing and developing regional water infrastructure, including cross-border water systems.
The second phase of the regional groundwater program, supported by the SADC Water Fund and other partners, will be discussed alongside the water-energy-food integration project implemented in member states.
The ministers will receive updates on the ongoing revision of regional water policies and strategies for mobilizing resources in the water sector.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), founded in 1980 with sixteen (16) member states, was initially known as the Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference and was renamed the Southern African Development Community in August 1992.
The Joint Meeting of Ministers for Energy and Water will be preceded by a 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
