U.S. launches Africa Utility Power Sector Exchange

Addis Ababa, April 7, 2017 (FBC) -U.S. government in partnership with the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) officially launched the African Utility Power Sector Exchange (AUPSE) initiative yesterday with a workshop in Washington, D.C. attended by African and U.S. utility Chief Executive Officers (CEO).

Acting Special Envoy and Coordinator for the Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources Ambassador Mary Warlick and EEI President Tom Kuhn opened the event.

Utility CEOs from six African nations met their counterparts from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia to discuss a range of critical power sector management issues, including the integration of renewable energy onto the grid, providing electricity for remote populations, and long-term sustainability.

The U.S.-Africa Utility Power Sector Exchange initiative, which State and EEI are implementing jointly, aims to advance electric power sector reform and development in underdeveloped markets, which experience the greatest challenges to energy access, by encouraging the exchange of ideas and best practices in the management of utilities.

The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa today organized a press conference marking the launch of the program.