Ethiopia’s Leadership in Cross-Border Power Integration Praised as Model for Africa

Addis Ababa, July 1, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia is undertaking exemplary efforts to advance the seamless integration of electricity grids across Africa, according to African Union Commission Director for Infrastructure and Energy, Kamugisha Kazaura.

Speaking on the continent’s strategic push for power interconnectivity, Kazaura highlighted Ethiopia’s regional initiatives as a vital contribution to the realization of the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM).

This flagship project, launched under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement of 2019, aims to establish an integrated, competitive, and reliable electricity market to drive sustainable development across the continent, as reported by ENA.

“AfSEM is designed to deliver secure, affordable, and sustainable energy to African households, businesses, and industries,” Kazaura said, underscoring its transformative potential.

He cited Ethiopia’s cross-border electricity connections with Sudan and Djibouti as concrete examples of progress toward continental energy integration, and commended the country’s active role in the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP).

“Ethiopia is already interconnected with several neighboring countries through the EAPP. There are also ongoing projects linking Ethiopia with Kenya, which in turn is interconnecting with Tanzania—part of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). Eventually, this will extend to Zambia, creating a continuous power network across regions,” Kazaura explained.

The director emphasized that the long-term goal is to establish a seamlessly integrated continental electricity grid, enabling efficient cross-border electricity trade and fostering a unified energy market among African Union Member States.

AfSEM encompasses all forms of electricity generation—hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, and other renewables, as well as gas and oil-based sources. Kazaura noted that these diverse sources are central to the Continental Power System Master Plan, a foundational element for the market’s success.

To accelerate electricity access, the AUC—alongside the African Development Bank and the World Bank—launched Mission 300 earlier this year. The initiative aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, addressing one of the continent’s most pressing development challenges.

Kazaura acknowledged the support of key international partners, including the African Development Bank, the European Union, and the German government, for their commitment to advancing the continent’s energy goals.

AfSEM, he reaffirmed, is poised to bolster energy security, sustainability, and competitiveness across the African continent, with Ethiopia standing out as a leading example of regional cooperation in action.