Energy security for many developing countries depends on crafting a regional energy strategy to buttress national ones. Instead of incurring high capital costs to build additional power generating capacity, some countries may find cross-border transmission lines a more prudent option to access electricity from big regional power plants that benefit from economies of scale to generate power at a lower cost than smaller, national ones. Regional energy integration requires regional economic cooperation. Cooperation can begin with regional energy assessments and sharing of best practices. Standardizing design can reduce unit costs, permit faster implementation, and lower the costs of spare parts, maintenance, and staff training.
ESMAP has compiled data on a broad range of issues by conducting regional energy assessments for clients that have found it beneficial to supplement their individual national energy strategies with a regional one. The regions studied are Sub-Saharan Africa, Persian Gulf, Middle East and North Africa, South East Europe, West Balkans, and Latin America. Ongoing regional energy integration activities cover electricity and gas; renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Looking ahead, ESMAP’s support will emphasize knowledge exchange between practitioners.
Examples of REISP activities include:
- Twelve African Could Pay Less for Oil Products: New Study Reveals
- Cleaner Motor Fuels in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2020
- ESMAP Funds Oil and Gas Sector Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa and Vietnam
- South East Europe: A Regional Approach to Energy Security
- Middle East & North Africa launches the Scale-up Concentrated Solar Power Program
Related Resources
- Presentation: Early Findings from an ESMAP Regional Power Study
- Regional Power Sector Integration: Lessons from Global Case Studies and a Literature Review