December 2014

The annual meeting of SADC Energy Ministers has been postponed to a later date.

The meeting provides an opportunity for energy ministers to review the power situation in the region in an effort to ensure that supply and demand are evenly matched.

  Traditionally held in March/April each year, the meeting was first postponed to September to allow the host country, Malawi, to hold its general elections in May.

Malawi had indicated that it was unable to host the meeting a few months after the polls which produced a new government.

Mauritius, being next country in alphabetical order of 15-member regional body, has been approached to host the energy ministers meeting, with no confirmation as yet.

A number of issues, including the establishment of a SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, will be discussed at the meeting. Other issues on the agenda are the status of implementation of key decisions made at the last meeting held Lesotho in 2013 as well as some of the priority projects.

The decisions of the energy ministers’ meeting will be forwarded to the SADC Council of Ministers for final approval as their next meeting set for February 2015.