Sectoral Council of Energy, Petroleum and Mining agrees to establish EACREEE as an EAC Institution
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 18th February, 2025: The Sectoral Council on Energy, Petroleum and Mining held on 14th February, 2025, in Arusha, Tanzania agreed to establish the Centre of Excellence for the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency ( EACREEE) as an Institution of the East African Community.
The decision to transform EACREEE into an EAC Institution came during the 16th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers on Energy reviewed the status of the Centre of Excellence and directed the EACREEE Secretariat to coordinate with the EAC Secretariat, to develop a Concept Paper highlighting the status of EACREEE establishment, progress, bottlenecks and opportunities for the Partner States and the region.
The overarching mandate of EACREEE is to galvanise Partner States and provide a mechanism through which the private sector and development partners can play a key role in supporting Partner States to close their energy-access deficits, meet increasing energy demands and contribute to climate action.
It is anticipated that the institutionalisation of EACREEE will have limited or no resource implications on the EAC given that the Centre has already demonstrated its sustainability by mobilising resources and supporting its operations since its establishment without any direct cash contributions from the Partner States.
The full institutionalisation of EACREEE is further expected to drive significant progress in renewable energy adoption and energy efficiency promotion. This will not only contribute to national and regional development but will also support global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable energy for all.
EACREEE’s mandate of promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency for socioeconomic development, climate action and environmental stewardship is derived from and aligned with the EAC Treaty, EAC Vision 2050, 6th EAC Development Strategy (2021/22 – 2025/26), EAC Energy Security Policy Framework, 2018 and African Union Agenda, 2063.
Other items considered during the Sectoral Council were the progress of the implementation of Sectoral Council Decisions and outstanding issues from earlier Council Meetings, Draft Regional EAC Energy Efficiency Policy, Internal Audit and Conference reports for the 10th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition 2023 (EAPCE’23).
Also on the agenda were the review of the 10th East African Petroleum Conference 2023, ongoing preparations for the 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition 2025 (EAPCE’25) as well as preparations for the 12th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition 2027 (EAPCE’27).
On the preparations for the 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition 2025 (EAPCE’25) the Sectoral Council took note of the Conference & Exhibition 2025 to be held from 5th – 7th March, 2025, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Sectoral Council was briefed on the ongoing registration exercise and informed that 50% of the expected 1,000 delegates had already registered from various sectors within the region and beyond. The Sectoral Council urged all the Partner States to register delegates by February 28th, 2025
On the Power Supply Situation and Status of Implementation of the East African Power System Master Plan (EAPMP the Sectoral Council observed that the level of connectivity and access to power as well as the consumption per capita in the region is still relatively low. The Sectoral Council urged Partner States to put more effort in investing in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure and come up with demand stimulation strategies to promote productive use of electricity.
On the Development of the Regional EAC Energy Efficiency Policy, the Sectoral Council took note of the progress made in Country Consultations conducted in all Partner States. However, the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) felt that there was need for them to undertake further country consultations and requested for additional time up to end June 2025. The Sectoral Council directed the Secretariat to convene a regional validation meeting by July 2025 to validate the new version of the policy that incorporates URT’s comments.
In his remarks during the official opening of the Ministerial Session, Dr. Anthony Kafumbe, the Counsel to the Community (CTC), who spoke on behalf of Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the Deputy Secretary General (Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors), reiterated the need for a collective effort to ensure that over 130 million citizens of the Community have access to modern and sustainable energy solutions.
“Reliable and affordable energy is an imperative for the transformation and development outlined in our EAC Vision 2050,” said Dr. Kafumbe
Dr. Kafumbe emphasised the importance of forging pathways to capitalise on the diverse energy resources across the region through harnessing renewable energy, advancing technological innovation and fostering regional partnerships.
The five-day meeting from Monday 10th - 14th February, 2025 was conducted through Session Senior Officials from 10th -12th February, 2025. The Session of the Coordination Committee that brings together Permanent/Principal/Under Secretaries on 13th February, 2024 while the Cabinet Secretaries/Ministers' session held on Friday 14th February, 2024.
Notes to Editor
In 2014, the EAC 9th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Energy approved the establishment of the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE). On June 11, 2016, EACREEE was launched as a Centre of excellence at Makerere University, College of Engineering, Design, and Technology (CEDAT), in Kampala, Uganda.
In a letter to the Principal, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology at Makerere University, the Deputy Secretary General of EAC communicated that EACREEE ‘‘can be registered as a non-profit company limited by guarantee with no shares as suggested by CEDAT owned and guaranteed by Makerere University under the Ugandan law.’’
The said letter was equally copied Permanent Secretaries of all EAC Partner States and no objection was ever raised. EACREEE continues to operate under this arrangement until today.Within its status, EACREEE has proved its relevance and effectively supported the EAC and the Partner States in promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the region, key among which include the following:
- EACREEE has supported the EAC in the development of coherent regional policy and policy options including roadmaps, strategies, standards, guidelines, and frameworks. At the various stages EACREEE is developing the EAC Regional Energy Efficiency Policy, Regional Renewable Energy Policy, Regional Minimum Energy Performance Standards for colling and a Compliance Framework;
- EACREEE has also facilitated capacity building in renewable energy and energy efficiency across the EAC Partner States. Trainings conducted for entrepreneurs, technicians, policy makers on solar energy, energy efficiency and small hydropower among others;
- EACREEE has created awareness on renewable energy and energy efficiency through various publications including status reports and situational analysis on gender. Furthermore, EACREEE has organised various events including two sustainable energy conferences as well as workshops on various topics;
- EACREEE has built partnerships and cooperated with national, regional, and international organizations in formulation and implementation of sustainable energy development programmes in the East African Community. These include Austrian Development Agency, Swedish International Development Agency and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), among other Development Partners;
- EACREEE has supported the EAC Partners by providing equipment. EACREEE provided portable lighting testing equipment for standards bureaus of Burundi, Democratic Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda. Additionally, EACREEE is developing a regional lighting testing facility in Uganda. Furthermore, EACREEE has supported five Energy Service Companies in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda with co-financing to test innovative business models in 5 SMEs. EACREEE has supported in installation of electric motor bike charging stations in Kenya.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight (8) Partner States, comprising the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Federal Republic of Somalia was admitted into the EAC bloc by the Summit of EAC Heads of State on 24th November, 2023 and became a full member on 4th March, 2024