Posted on :Tuesday , 15th August 2023

The International Energy Agency's Governing Board unanimously decided that the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Senegal would become Association nations, highlighting the IEA's growing involvement with Africa on energy and climate concerns.

The IEA's member nations unanimously approved the proposal to deepen ties with each nation on June 21 in response to requests from the governments of Kenya and Senegal to become Association countries. With South Africa joining the IEA Family, there will now be three sub-Saharan African nations, including Kenya and Senegal.

According to IEA Governing Board Chair Anders Hoffmann, "Africa will play an increasingly important role in the future of the world's energy, so I am delighted that the Governing Board has unanimously supported bringing Kenya and Senegal into the IEA Family, enabling us all to benefit from their perspectives and deepen cooperation on energy security, access, and climate issues."

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol remarked, "The IEA is already closely collaborating with both Kenya and Senegal on a range of key areas, and I'm extremely happy that we are further strengthening our ties. Welcoming these two dynamic economies into the IEA Family is a new milestone in our long-standing engagement on energy issues in Africa and it highlights the global reach of our Agency, as the new global energy economy takes shape, we are looking forward working with Kenya and Senegal even more closely to guarantee that people in Africa and around the world have a safe and sustainable future."

"Kenya lauds joining the IEA Family and its admission as an Association country," stated Kenya's Minister of Energy and Petroleum Davis Chirchir. "We'll work to improve our relationships and knowledge, particularly in the areas of geothermal development, off-grid electricity, and access to clean cooking options. By concentrating on the transition to clean energy in the near future, we must all work together to improve the world."

Senegal's Minister of Petroleum and Energy Sophie Assatou Gladima remarked, "I am pleased with IEA's decision to welcome Senegal into the IEA Family as an Association country." "If any more evidence were required, this shows the importance of the decisions taken by our nation, which aims to attain energy security, universal access, and industrialization while attempting to reduce its environmental footprint. We will cooperate with the other nations to strengthen these sectors for the benefit of both our nation and the sub-region."

Kenya is now collaborating with the IEA on a variety of issues, including improving data and statistics capability, policies for the transition to renewable energy, the implementation of energy efficiency measures, and energy access. The IEA is assisting Kenya in getting ready for the next African Climate Action Summit, which will be held in Nairobi from September 4–6. The 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency of the IEA will also be co-hosted by Kenya the following year.

Since a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2019 and extended in October 2022, Senegal has collaborated closely with the IEA. An IEA peer review team visited Dakar in May 2023 to conduct an in-depth energy policy assessment. The IEA has contributed to the design of market reforms to improve governance in the nation's energy sector.

By exchanging information, data, and best practises with its partner nations, the IEA is able to work closely and expand its partnership with them. 13 nations are now part of the IEA Association thanks to Kenya and Senegal. Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Ukraine are the other countries in the Association as of 2015, when the framework was founded.