The energy sector is also a cornerstone of the transition due to its primary role in the existing sustainability issues in many countries, from the reliance on fossil fuels and the lack of access to modern energy to the absence of energy security and the persistence of governance problems (IEA, 2015). [...] Considered together, the sustainability transition, the rise in individualism and the emergence of new players in the sector call for a renewed approach to regional energy integration in the southern African region in support of sustainable energy development and a critical analysis of regional energy dynamics with the aim of improving energy sustainability. [...] Importantly, in a number of cases, the absence of security of supply is not related to the lack of generation capacity, but rather to a maintenance backlog and the poor state of the existing power plants (illustrated in Figure 4.4 by the difference between the installed and net capacities). [...] In fact, the implementation difficulties experienced by previous plans and strategies warrant that the SADC, the SAPP and the RERA play a driving force in the operationalisation of a regional framework and the development of a regional acquis (SADC and SARDC, 2016). [...] Given the nascent nature of energy regulation in the region and the rapidly evolving techno-economic environment in the energy space, the presence of well-capacitated and diverse teams 157 C o m p e t i t i o n a n d R e g u l a t i o n f o R i n C l u s i v e g R o w t h and stakeholders with up-to-date knowledge, skills and competences is at the core of a successful regional integration.
- Pages
- 50
- Published in
- South Africa
