Energy Regulators from the East African Community under their umbrella body Energy Regulators Association of East Africa (EREA) met yesterday in Gisenyi, Rubavu to elect the new chairperson of the association whose role is to harmonise energy policies, laws and regulations in the region.

The Gisenyi meeting that is presided over by the Minister of State for Energy and Water, Dr. Albert Butare is organised by Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) and will bring together heads of Regulatory Authorities from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the meeting will seek to find how the five EAC member states can make grid interconnections and get to know the operations of each other as well as plan for participation in both regional and international initiatives to form a joint platform, taking into account the specific needs of the EAC.

Burundi is the only country that is yet to establish an Energy Regulatory Authority but has already started the process to establish one. It is also anticipated that during the General Assembly, a Memorandum of Understanding between countries and the EREA Constitution will be ratified.

The meeting will elect a permanent head of the body and a committee which will take over from the interim committee chaired by Eng. Frank Sebbowa, the CEO of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) of Uganda. It is hoped that EREA will be incorporated into EAC structures after it is fully established. 

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