A Kenyan has been appointed to head an association of energy sector regulators from the 24-member State Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).
Geoffrey Aori Mabea was last week appointed as the chief executive of the Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa (ERESA).
The agency, based in Lusaka, Zambia, is the Comesa specialised agency mandated to promote integration and investment in the energy sector in the bloc by creating a harmonised regulatory environment.
The agency brings together energy regulatory bodies drawn from Comesa partner states to develop a common strategy for the more efficient use of energy and to accede to international agreements that are designed to improve the management of energy resources, among other roles.
Before his Comesa appointment, Dr Mabea, an energy economist and regulatory strategist, was the executive secretary of the Energy Regulators Association of East Africa based in Arusha, Tanzania.
“I want to thank the respective partner states for having confidence in me to spearhead the Comesa energy union. For Kenya having seconded me it’s a boost for our country and the confidence for us to spearhead harmonisation of energy regulatory policies across the Comesa countries,” he told the Business Daily.
His appointment was ratified on February 18, 2025, by all Comesa partner states. Dr Mabea assumes office at a defining moment, as Africa’s energy sector stands on the precipice of transformational change.
The agency operates within the overarching framework of Comesa with a mandate to synchronise energy regulatory frameworks across member states, catalysing cross-border investments.
The imminent launch of the Eastern African Power Pool’s regional electricity market—slated for commissioning in the second quarter of 2025—marks a critical milestone in Africa’s pursuit of an integrated and competitive energy marketplace.
Additionally, the implementation of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), envisioned as the world’s largest interconnected power grid, presents a formidable challenge requiring astute regulatory oversight and seamless cross-border energy trading frameworks.
Dr Mabea, Kenyan, was five years ago appointed as the first Executive Secretary for the Energy Regulators Association of East Africa.
He previously served as an energy expert in national and international organisations in various leading positions, including GDC, PwC, KenGen, and Northern Corridor Countries Integration Projects Committee.
He was tasked with spearheading the realisation of a robust Energy Union for East Africa Community countries.
