African Energy Commission

The African Energy Commission (AFREC) is a specialised energy agency of African Union with a mandate articulated in the AFREC convention. AFREC mandate was established by African Heads of States and Governments in 2001, with broad objectives to lead the development of energy policies and programmes, create and continuously update the African Energy Statistics, mobilise technical and financial support for Member States and implement capacity building programmes.

Mandate

• Map out energy development policies, strategies and plans based on sub-regional, regional and continental development priorities and recommend their implementation.
• Design, create and update an energy continental data base and facilitate rapid dissemination of information and exchange of information among Member States, as well as among the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
• Advise and encourage the development of human resources in the energy sector in particular, through training.
• Mobilize financial resources to provide to Member States and the Regional Economic Communities with all the necessary assistance for the development of their energy sectors.
• Encourage research and development in the energy sector.
• Develop trade and transit of energy goods and services among Member States, particularly through the identification and removal of barriers.
• Provide technical assistance to Member States, Regional Economic Communities and other stake holders in the African energy sectors.
• Recommend the use of harmonised standards and procedures in the energy sector.
• Establish the necessary mechanisms for the exploitation and utilisation of energy resources of the continent in an optimal manner with the aim of complementarity.
• Undertake the harmonisation and rationalisation of energy development and utilisation programmes.
• Promote among Member States the identification and the adoption and implementation of effective measures to prevent environmental pollution particularly in the exploitation, transportation, storage, distribution, and utilization of the continent’s energy resources the control of the system and mechanism for the pricing and trading of energy.
• Work towards the realization of added value to energy resources in Member States.
• Assist in the development and utilization of new and renewable sources of energy.
• Provide assistance for feasibility study on energy projects and its adverse impact on the environment.
• Perform any other activity that may be necessary for realisation of the above objectives.

Strategy

In dealing with fundamental energy issues, AFREC mandate is implemented through Six (6) main broad programmes/ thematic areas which forms part of its new strategy, namely:
a) The Energy Information System (AEIS)
b) Energy Efficiency
c) Bioenergy
d) Oil and Gas
d) Energy Transition

History

African Energy Commission (AFREC) was created by Decision AHG/Dec.167 (XXXVII) of the 37th Summit of the OAU African Heads of States and Governments held in Lusaka, Zambia, on 11 July 2001, and officially launched by the African Union Ministers in charge of Energy in the meeting held on 15 – 17 February 2008 in Algiers, Algeria through the Algiers Declaration AU/EXP/EN/Decl (III). The Executive Council of the African Union in its Thirteenth Ordinary Council held on 24 – 28 June in Sharm El sheikh, Egypt endorsed the Algiers Declaration on the official launching of AFREC ( Decision EX.CL/Dec.432 (XIII)). Up to date, forty six Member states have signed the Convention, thirty five (35) of which have ratified and deposited it, while the ratification of the remaining Member states is still in progress.

Governance Structure

Read more on the commission’s website here