The Independent Regulatory Board (IRB) of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) have Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a formal framework for cooperation between the IRB and SAPP.

The MoU aims to promote regional infrastructure integration, enhance power systems reliability, affordability, accessibility and foster a harmonized regulatory environment between the Southern African Power Pool and the Eastern Africa Power Pool, in accordance with the respective mandates of the Two institutions.

The MoU specifically provides for collaboration on the following areas:

  • Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building, including the exchange of technical expertise, best practices in power pool management, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Regulatory Harmonization, including alignment of Grid Codes and Dispute Resolution mechanisms to facilitate seamless Regional Power Trade.
  • Integration of Regional Power infrastructure, including collaboration on Cross-Border Electricity trading protocols and development of infrastructure standards.
  • Sharing of Data and Information, including establishing channels to share non-confidential technical data, market reports, and research findings.
  • Study Tours and Staff Exchange, including facilitating reciprocal visits to share "on-the-ground" operational insights and administrative processes.

While addressing the media after the Signing of the MoU, the Ag. Director General of the IRB, and Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) in Uganda, Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, revealed that the launch of the competitive Electricity Market in the Eastern Africa Region was set for April 2026.

Eng. Waako noted that the IRB had taken the necessary steps “to ensure that upon Going Live, the Eastern Africa Electricity Market operates in a Transparent way, attracts investments, and delivers value for money for all the market participants”.

Eng. James Wahogo, the Secretary General of the EAPP, noted that Market Surveillance and Monitoring were critical for the operations of the Eastern Africa Power Pool upon going live. He added that the upcoming interconnection of the SAPP and EAPP through the Tanzania and Zambia Power systems provided a good foundation for the Africa Single Electricity Market.

The MoU Signing ceremony that took place on Friday, 20th February, 2026, in Harare – Zimbabwe, marked the end of a week-long Study Visit of the Southern African Power Pool by the Independent Regulatory Board, conducted in partnership with GET.transform. 

 

The study visit was intended to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of the IRB to effectively and efficiently Regulate Eastern Africa’s upcoming regional competitive Electricity market, through effective tools, frameworks, and operational practices.

The IRB is advancing preparations to establish a robust Market Monitoring and Surveillance function to ensure transparency, fair competition, and system stability through cross-border power trade. The visit complements the process to develop the Procedures for Market monitoring, being undertaken by the IRB, with Funding from the African Development Bank.

Key stakeholders in the Eastern Africa Electricity Market, including the EAPP, the African Development Bank, GET.transform, and the African Union Commission witnessed the MoU Signing ceremony.

The Eastern Africa Power Pool currently has a Membership of 13 (Thirteen Countries); namely: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

On the other hand, the Southern African Power Pool, created in the year 1995 under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and based in Harare - Zimbabwe, is comprised of 12 (Twelve) Member Countries. These are: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

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