The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has called for greater regional collaboration among African countries to lower electricity costs and enhance energy security. Acting Director General Joseph Oketch spoke at the 7th Annual EPRA Research and Innovation Conference 2026 in Nairobi on April 21. He described current energy challenges as an opportunity for cross-border cooperation.
Speaking at the conference in Nairobi, Oketch stated, “The challenges we are facing now are a good opportunity to collaborate across sectors and the region to collectively address vulnerabilities in our energy supply chains while building systems that are flexible, integrated, and informed by credible research.”
He added that energy in Africa should be rooted in resilient regional systems able to withstand supply disruptions, price volatility, and evolving demands. “I emphasise that collaboration remains the cornerstone of progress. The challenges we face cannot be addressed in silos,” Oketch said.
EPRA stressed the need for harmonised regulatory frameworks, energy policy alignment, and coordinated market structures. The authority is also advocating standardised pricing mechanisms and policy incentives to reduce electricity costs for consumers.
Eastern African countries are advancing toward a fully integrated electricity market, enabling trade at competitive prices and benefiting from shared resources. EPRA highlighted the M300 Initiative, aiming to connect 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa to electricity, as evidence of regional efforts' impact.
The week-long conference, themed ‘Advancing Energy Affordability and Security in Sustainable Development’, gathered policymakers, researchers, and industry officials from across the continent.
