Future Energy Series: Africa (FESA), has secured a strategic partnership with the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR).
AFUR, as part of its strategic partnership with FESA, will contribute to the development of the inaugural FESA conference programme, ensuring it reflects the objectives and challenges faced by their extensive network of pan-African Ministers, utility CEOs and regulators.
Bringing together the most significant energy players, AFUR will use FESA as a platform for active dialogue on developing robust, dynamic energy policies and advancing green economies.
FESA is a deal-making and project origination platform of choice for the continent’s most influential low-carbon energy stakeholders.
Director of Strategic Partnerships at FESA, Paul Sinclair, speaking on the partnership with AFUR said: “We are excited to work closely with AFUR, they will undoubtedly prove to be a great asset to FESA. We recognise that over the coming 50 years Africa will face a myriad of fresh challenges related to energy access. Across all regions a young, upwardly mobile population of new middle-income citizens lack a basic supply of easy-to-access, affordable power.”
“Key issues such as large base power deficits and insufficient power generation mean that industry lacks the capacity to grow and prosper. Challenges in inadequate energy infrastructure deter required investment in the power sector, and the need for policy reform makes some economies prohibitive for highly regulated and cautious investors. The partnership between AFUR and FESA will provide a platform for B2G dialogue and lobbying that will eradicate prohibitive red tape, unblock bottlenecks to make economies more conducive to investors and accelerate capital flow into the continent,” he added.
Executive Secretary of AFUR, Debbie Roets, also commented saying, “AFUR is very excited to work closely with FESA on this very important event. It is always important to bring all the policy makers together to discuss the challenges in energy access in Africa, the greatest being delivering sustainable, affordable sources of electricity across the continent.”
“Although governments have made great strides over the past two decades in developing both robust regulatory frameworks and energy access, the progress made has been uneven; just under 600 million Africans still have no access to electricity. This event definitely provides the opportunities for discussions on best practices and information sharing,” she added.
