The joint meeting of Ministers responsible for energy and water in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will take place on 30th October 2020 virtually and chaired by the Republic of Mozambique. Ministers will deliberate on programmes of regional dimensions in support to the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-30 and the SADC Vision 2050 particularly programmes for infrastructure development of the two sectors.
In the energy sector, the deliberations will focus on security of energy supply, energy infrastructure development, progress on targets from the previous Ministerial meeting decisions. The Ministerial meeting will among others, review the initiatives aimed to support implementation of the regional power programmes and projects, petroleum and gas subprogrammes, promotion of new and renewable energy sources and energy efficiency issues, and the status on the establishment of energy regulators and modalities of strengthening the Regional Energy Regulators Association.
Ministers will also review progress on the directives from the Council of Ministers on regional gas subprogramme and the ongoing regional infrastructure development initiatives in support of the regional integration. The Ministers will further discuss and review the draft agreement amending the SADC Protocol on Energy of 1996; and consider the revised Regional Energy Access and Strategic Action Plan that aims to increase access to energy sources.
In the water sector, the Ministers will review progress on the implementation of the Groundwater Management Programme; the Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF) Supported Projects and receive updates on the Development of the Fifth Water Regional Strategic Action Plan
Ministers will also deliberate on Cross-cutting issues such as Water, Energy and Food Security (WEF) Nexus Programme, and consider outcomes of assessments by the Energy/Power and Water Sectors of the impact of COVID-19.
Ahead of the Ministers meeting, the SADC Senior Officials responsible for energy and water held their meeting on 26th and 27th October, 2020 to clear documents and consider issues for deliberation by the Ministers.
A statement on the deliberations of the Ministers meeting will be issued after the meeting to all media houses.
Inquiries: For more information, please contact, the Communication & Public Relations Unit; prinfo@sadc.int
Issued by the SADC Secretariat 28th October, 2020
Gaborone, Botswana
