The European Union and the African Union have officially shifted their collaborative efforts from strategic planning to concrete, on-the-ground delivery for the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) and the Continental Power System Master Plan (CMP).
This transition was solidified during a high-level Technical Consultation and Validation Workshop held in Addis Ababa from June 3 to 5, 2026. The event brought together more than 60 representatives from roughly 35 African continental, regional, and national institutions, marking a decisive step toward the African Union’s ambitious “One Grid, One Market, One Vision” goal.
The stakes for this partnership are immense. Currently, over 600 million people across Africa lack access to electricity, and energy demand is projected to triple by 2040. To meet these needs and achieve universal energy access, Africa must scale its generation capacity from approximately 266 GW today to over 1,218 GW within the next 15 years. This massive expansion, which includes a significant shift toward renewable energy sources, is estimated to require a staggering $1.3 trillion in investment.
By validating a comprehensive package of strategic studies, technical frameworks, and operational tools at the Addis Ababa workshop, the EU and AU have effectively created an “investment-ready” foundation. This framework is designed to de-risk projects and provide the regulatory certainty required to attract the private and public capital necessary to close this trillion-dollar gap.
The initiative represents a fundamental shift in the EU-AU partnership. Following a decade (2015–2025) dedicated to designing and adopting energy strategies, the partnership has now entered a “transition phase.” The current focus is on regional and national implementation, ensuring that continental policies translate into tangible infrastructure, such as cross-border transmission lines and integrated market mechanisms.
“This workshop marks a defining step in our partnership with the African Union,” said Gianluca Azzoni, Head of Policy and Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to the African Union. “Through the Global Gateway and Team Europe, the European Union is proud to stand with our African partners in building an electricity market that is integrated, climate-resilient and ready for investment.”
The effort is being spearheaded by the Continental Energy Programme in Africa (CEPA),a flagship vehicle under the EU’s Global Gateway Africa–Europe Investment Package—which aims to mobilize up to €150 billion for the continent. CEPA coordinates technical assistance alongside other major initiatives, including Germany’s “Accelerating the Energy Transition in Africa” (ENGAGE) program and the Africa–EU Energy Partnership (AEEP).
These programs work in concert to strengthen regulatory harmonization and institutional readiness across Africa’s five regional power pools. By aligning national energy policies with these continental initiatives, the partnership aims to create a cohesive grid that can facilitate energy trade, support industrialization, and enhance climate resilience. As the continent works toward Agenda 2063, this collaborative framework serves as the primary engine for turning Africa’s vast renewable potential into a reliable, modern energy reality for its citizens.
