Moses Magadza in Luanda, Angola
SADC countries must work together, particularly in the early stages of establishing energy projects, to identify opportunities for developing new large-scale generation and transmission infrastructure securing cross-border trade of energy, building joint refining capacity, and exploring joint options for investing to realise these opportunities.
The President of SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) President Honourable Roger Mancienne, who is also the Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles, said this when he officially opened the 55th Plenary Assembly hosted by the Parliament of Angola in Luanda.
The theme of the session is: “The Role of Parliaments in Promoting Renewable Energy Policies in the SADC Region and Creating a Single Regional Energy Market”.
He said as SADC countries are least responsible for climate change and most affected by it, priority must be to ensure sustainable development, energy security and that the people, ecosystems and economies adapt to climate change shocks.
Hon Mancienne said the transition to renewable energy is a strategic imperative for the SADC region as it offers a pathway to sustainable development, energy security, and economic resilience.
He said renewable energy is one of the most effective climate action tools and the primary means of addressing climate change. However, countries vulnerable to climate change, such as SADC states, continue to suffer from damages of inaction with the bulk of their resources continuously being redeployed to abate its impacts.
He said electricity access in the SADC region is below 50% and although some gains have been made in urban areas, energy security is most evasive in rural areas where only 32% of households have access to electricity.
“As we look to expand our energy capacity in the region, it is imperative, that like the rest of the world, we must gradually transition from the current production choices, to avoid locking-in further carbon emissions that will only harm us in the long-term,” he advised.
He pointed out that SADC is endowed with a rich array of renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy.
“We must therefore find ways to leverage and maximise this renewable energy wealth to advance an inclusive, equitable, and economically, socially, and environmentally beneficial energy revolution,” the SADC President said.
the official opening of the Plenary. Photo: National Assembly of Angola.
He noted that underpinning the under-exploitation of energy sources in the region is the inability to access funding for investment in infrastructure as well as lack of technological capacity to develop projects.
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He said projects intended to address the energy shortage lag behind deadline due to lack of funding; inadequate project preparation and the absence of regulatory frameworks which stunt investment and financing in the renewable energy sector.
Innovative financing and low cost of capital instruments are required to ensure adequate development and upscaling of renewable energy wealth.
The President said by promoting renewable energy policies and creating a single regional energy market, SADC can unlock the full potential of its renewable resources, drive economic growth, and improve the well-being of its people.
Hon Mancienne told his audience that energy security in the region is highly dependent on regional solutions and so political leadership is essential in developing and scaling up the renewable energy wealth potential.
In line with the theme of the Plenary, he said creating a single regional energy market would facilitate cross-border energy trade, optimise resource allocation, and attract investment in large-scale renewable energy projects.
Harmonising regulatory frameworks, technical standards, and pricing mechanisms across the SADC member states is essential to achieving this goal, he added.
Hon Mancienne said parliamentarians are strategically positioned to leverage their political capital to ensure adoption and implementation of policy decisions, adding that effective oversight and accountability mechanisms are vital to ensuring renewable energy policies are implemented successfully.
“Parliaments must hold governments and energy agencies accountable for meeting renewable energy targets and for the prudent use of public funds,” he noted.
He called for a multi-faceted approach in promoting renewable energy policies within the SADC region.
“First, we must establish clear and ambitious targets for renewable energy adoption. These targets will serve as a roadmap for our transition and demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable energy future,” he stated.
He said to meet these targets, it is imperative to prioritise capacity building for lawmakers to ensure they can respond to the changing policy direction that informs a just and equitable energy transition.
In addition, parliamentarians must ensure their respective communities support the national and international energy transition goals.
“Counter-lobbying from interest groups is a challenge in many countries especially those that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Our responsibility is to advocate for issues we consider to be particularly important,” he said.
