SADC moves to redefine energy future: meets in Lusaka to validate Just Energy Transition Framework

Lusaka, Zambia, 22 January 2026 (ECA) - Southern Africa has taken a major step toward redefining its energy future as policymakers, energy experts, and development partners from across the region convened in Lusaka for a three-day high-level workshop to validate the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Just Energy Transition (JET) Framework, a strategic regional blueprint aimed at guiding the transition toward sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient energy systems.

The meeting, convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) through its Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat, marks a critical milestone in building a coordinated regional approach to energy security, industrial development, and climate resilience.

Opening the workshop, the SADC Executive Secretary, Mr Elias Mpedi Magosi, in remarks delivered on his behalf by Mr Moses Ntlamelle, Senior Programme Officer-Energy, said the region has recorded steady progress in energy infrastructure development, regional power trading, renewable energy deployment, and access to electricity in support of SADC's shared development objectives.

"Energy remains one of the key enablers for industrialisation, economic growth and regional integration, while also improving the quality of life of people across the SADC region," said Mr Ntlamelle.

He noted that Southern Africa's energy sector has historically been dominated by fossil fuels-a legacy shaped by the global oil embargo of the 1970s, when countries prioritised energy security and self-sufficiency with limited focus on environmental sustainability. However, the growing threat of climate change has since compelled countries, particularly industrialised nations, to adopt binding emission-reduction targets largely centred on the energy sector.

The SADC region continues to face rising electricity demand amid constrained generation capacity, limited investment in new power stations and transmission infrastructure, and congestion in both national and regional power networks. Mr Ntlamelle noted that recurrent drought and El Niño episodes in 2015/2016 and 2024/2025 significantly reduced hydropower output, exposing vulnerabilities associated with heavy reliance on a single energy source.

Also addressing the meeting, Ms Eunice G. Kamwendo, Director of ECA SRO-SA, underscored the urgency of accelerating a just energy transition in the face of climate change, persistent energy insecurity, and widening development inequalities across the region.

"The SADC Just Energy Transition Framework is a critical analytical and policy instrument that seeks to place our region on a path toward energy security, climate resilience, and inclusive industrial development," she said.

She noted that despite the region's vast renewable energy and critical mineral endowments, Southern Africa continues to face significant challenges, including uneven access to electricity, ageing infrastructure, limited cross-border interconnections, and an estimated annual energy financing gap exceeding USD 80 billion through 2027.

"The Framework provides a shared regional blueprint to align national efforts, enhance coordination, de-risk investments, and accelerate access to modern, affordable, and sustainable energy, especially for underserved communities," Ms Kamwendo added.

The Lusaka workshop brought together senior government officials, technical experts, private sector representatives, civil society, and development partners to validate the draft Framework, build consensus on key milestones, and agree on a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism to support effective implementation.

The SADC Regional JET Framework is expected to support deeper regional integration, promote clean energy investments, strengthen resilience to climate shocks, and ensure that the costs and benefits of the energy transition are equitably shared-while positioning Southern Africa as an active and credible participant in the global energy transition.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) Mr, Kudakwashe Ndhlukula called for a people-centred, innovation-driven energy transition, stressing that energy access, security, skills development, and emerging technologies must be central to the Framework.

Speaking at the Validation Workshop, Mr Ndhlukula commended the SADC Secretariat and ECA for their leadership in coordinating a regional response to energy transition challenges and emphasized that the transition must go beyond decarbonisation to deliver reliable, affordable and modern energy services that improve livelihoods and support inclusive development.

He said that energy and critical minerals are increasingly central to global geopolitics and economic competitiveness and urged Southern Africa to leverage its abundant renewable resources and mineral wealth to secure a stronger position in the global energy transition.

Addressing regional energy challenges, Mr Ndhlukula called for sustained investment in people, institutions, technology, and finance, stressing the importance of building skills not only to install clean energy systems, but also to design, manufacture, operate, maintain, and govern energy infrastructure, thereby supporting industrialisation and regional value addition.

He further underscored the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and digital platforms in system design, predictive maintenance, grid optimisation, and efficient energy use.

In conclusion, he stated that the SADC JET Framework presents a critical opportunity to strike a balance between climate ambition and development realities, positioning Southern Africa as an active participant in the global energy transition.

ECA and SADC expressed their appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Zambia for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the region's energy and climate agenda through strong regional cooperation.

On behalf of the Ministry of Energy, Zambia Mr Mundia Sitali welcome the participants and wished them fruitful deliberations.

The Validation Meeting is attended by the Officials and the Energy Experts mainly from the Ministries responsible for Energy as well as the regional energy institutions from Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Issued by:
The Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa
UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
P.O. Box 30647, Lusaka, Zambia.

Media Contacts:

Mr Bedson Nyoni - Senior Information Management Assistant
Tel: +260 211 228502/5 Ext. 21307
Email: [email protected]