The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) recently hosted a course on energy demand and supply training for east African energy experts in a bid to strengthen the region’s technical capacity in energy demand, supply planning and management.

This will allow them to respond to current energy planning gaps; integrate energy sector planning tools in sector planning and acquire knowledge on undertaking energy demand and supply analyses and balance management.

Energy balance statistics development was also an area discussed during the course that was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and attended by 14 experts from different countries in the region.  

Specifically, organizers aimed to have the experts acquire energy planning knowledge on the Model for the Analysis of Energy Demand (MAED) and acquire energy planning knowledge on Model of Energy Supply Strategy Alternatives and their General Environmental Impacts.

They also wanted participants to gain knowledge on the relevance of building energy balance statistics and learn from country processes and experiences in building one.

The ECA had received numerous capacity development requests from member States in Eastern Africa and this vital training is being held in response

Speaking at the end of the course, Ron Kamwendo of the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), said bridging energy planning capacity gaps through acquisition of knowledge in energy planning by experts from the 14 member States represented was crucial hence the course.

“Also crucial is that experts gain better understanding of energy balance statistics and its development in member States and acquire knowledge in conducting demand and supply detailed analyses, scenario assessments, and demand and supply balance evaluation over-time to support energy sector planning,” he said, adding improved ability of training participants in evaluating the impact of policies on energy sector outcomes was also of importance.

Ismael Antonio Concha Perdomo of the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose organization co-hosted the training with the ECA, said energy was crucial to development hence it was important for experts to be trained from time to time so they can be up to date with energy trends the world over and related issues.

In his closing remarks during the certificate awarding ceremony, ECA Special Adviser, Joe Atta-Mensah, said the ECA will continue to play its role to promote the economic and social development of its member States through such training and other programs that equip member States with knowledge and capacity to transform their economies by addressing their development challenges.

“The ECA had received numerous capacity development requests from member States in Eastern Africa and this vital training is being held in response to help strengthen the institutional energy sector planning capacity in the region,” said Mr. Atta-Mensah.

ECA’s East Africa office (ECA SRO-EA) partnered with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the Capacity Development Division (CDD) and IDEP in this training that will be undertaken in two phases; energy demand and supply planning and management tools and financial analysis of generation expansion.

Energy is one critical area to contribute to, and support progress on sustainable development on the continent. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, set the global policy tone for development in the 2015-2030 period with SDG Number 7 clearly stating the global priority for planning towards an affordable and clean energy future, to meet ambitious goals in universal energy access, doubling the share of renewable energy and improving on energy efficiency.