W hile state-owned electricity utilities have long dominated energy production in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), greater private sector involvement could boost energy security across the subregion.
According to Prof Muhiya Lukamba, associate professor in public administration at the NWU, the good news is that SADC member states are actively investing in the energy sector to ensure stability and create opportunities for private sector investment.
Prof Muhiya Lukamba
His research focuses on the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), a regional electricity market established by the SADC, and its impact on energy security within the subregion.
Prof Lukamba says energy security refers to the availability of sufficient energy to meet internal energy demands.
"In the SADC, energy security has a direct influence on economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability."
Here, the SAPP plays a vital role. It coordinates the planning and operation of the electric power system among member utilities, provides a forum for regional solutions and serves as a platform for member states to trade surplus electricity generated by their national power utilities.
Prof Lukamba says while private sector companies involved in electricity generation within the SADC region have been unable to trade their energy surplus through the SAPP, his research explores the potential benefits and challenges of expanding participation to include these entities.
For this to happen, it is necessary to identify and address the barriers, constraints and regulatory frameworks that limit the full participation of private sector companies in electricity trading, he says.
His research entails using document analysis to collect data and address the study's main research question on the role of the private sector and the energy pool's impact on regional energy security.
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