Uganda has for the 3rd time in a row appear as the top performer in this year’s Electricity Regulatory Index Report published by the African Development Bank.
The East African country, along with Namibia, Zambia, Kenya Tanzania and Tanzania, the other top performers, have regulators with the authority to apply the necessary oversight on the sector. However, the overall electricity regulatory frameworks of African countries is poorly developed, and most countries experience major regulatory instability.
The Electricity Regulatory Index, a flagship report of the AfDB, is a composite index which measures the level of progress of electricity sector regulatory frameworks in the African countries against international standards and best expertise.
“The AfDB has been at the forefront of efforts to mainstream electricity sector regulation problem in Africa within the broader sector discourse, recognizing the importance of establishing robust legal and regulatory frameworks to support the financial stability of the sector and attract private sector investment,” said Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, at the AfDB.
The 3rd edition of the Electricity Regulatory Index report was launched during the Digital Energy Festival of the Africa Energy Forum, on 5th November 2020. The event brought together more than 70 shareholders in the energy sector, regulators, international organizations, and development finance institutions like Africa50 and the World Bank.
Wale Shonibare, Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulations, at the AfDB, said COVID-19 related restrictions had increased residential electricity demand.
Koffi Klousseh, Director of Project Development at Africa50, praised the Electricity Regulatory Index as a great tool for assessing the readiness of the electricity sector for private sector investments.