Addis Ababa. Energy Ministers from the member states of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) have resolved to accelerate the implementation of a unified electricity market.
The landmark decision aims to enhance regional energy security, boost cross-border electricity trade, and decisively tackle persistent power supply deficits across the region.
The resolution was formalized during the 22nd Council of Ministers meeting held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, from July 9 to 10, 2026.
Tanzania was represented at the high-level convention by the Deputy Minister for Energy, Ms Salome Makamba, who attended on behalf of the substantive Energy Minister.
The two-day summit convened energy ministers, utility heads, and sector executives from across the EAPP bloc.
Delegates focused on robust strategies to fortify regional integration through competitive power trading, the interconnection of national grids, and the optimal optimization of shared energy resources.
The framework established by the ministers is projected to streamline bilateral and multilateral electricity trading.
Proponents of the initiative state that a functional regional market will drive down operational costs, stabilize local grids, stimulate industrial growth, and attract significant foreign direct investment into Eastern Africa’s infrastructure sector.
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Ms Makamba emphasized that the resolutions would directly alleviate power deficits and mitigate erratic supply within member states.
She noted that a unified market would foster a highly competitive environment, driving up efficiency among national utilities through structured technological exchange and shared operational expertise.
Ms Makamba further underscored that a reliable regional grid acts as a catalyst for industrialization across the small, medium, and large-scale sectors.
This stabilized energy environment is expected to accelerate manufacturing output, generate substantial youth employment, and open up specialized technical opportunities for Tanzanian professionals within the broader EAPP framework.
