Author: Ana Filipa Santos

Today, at the 19th General Assembly of RELOP, held virtually, the IRDP presented the balance of its two-year presidency of RELOP.

To this end, a publication has been produced highlighting the progress made by RELOP between 2022 and 2023. The publication aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress made during IRDP’s term as Chair of the Board and ARME’s as Vice-Chair.

These have been two years of deepening and leveraging RELOP’s activities, with the creation of 3 working groups and technical visits standing out.

Several workshops will be held between now and July with the goal of discussing the effects of the energy transition on RELOP member countries.

A series of workshops organized by the RELOP working group on energy transition will begin in February. With one workshop per month until July, the working group aims to be an enriching forum for discussion and to encourage the sharing of knowledge and experiences among participants. The first workshop is entitled “Integrated Strategies for the Energy Transition” and will be held next Thursday (29/2) exclusively online.

The first panel will take place at 13h15 (Portugal time) and will focus on: Dimensions of National Energy and Climate Plans in Europe. Five dimensions will be presented: energy efficiency, energy security, decarbonization, internal market and research, innovation and competitiveness, highlighting good practices and successful initiatives in each dimension in the European Union. The aim is both to inform and inspire in the implementation of initiatives and best practices, adapting them to the specific context of the reality of each RELOP country.

At 13h55, an interactive dialogue will begin, with the identification of common challenges and unique opportunities in each country, along with a discussion on how the dimensions can be adapted to the specific contexts of the other RELOP countries; specific experiences of the participants and assessment of how the principles presented can be applied in their local realities and, finally, a Q&A session. At 14h45, the main points discussed will be summarized as well as suggestions for additional topics to be explored in future Working Group workshops.

By the end of the workshop, the goal is to have a deeper understanding of the energy transition and form a solid basis for future collaboration and initiatives within the Working Group.

The program is presented below:

Program

13h00 | Opening

Framework on the importance of the energy transition in the national contexts of the RELOP countries

13h15 | Dimensions of National Energy and Climate Plans in Europe

Presentation of the five dimensions: Energy Efficiency, Energy Security, Decarbonization, Internal Market and Research, Innovation and Competitiveness.

Highlighting of best practices and successful initiatives in each dimension in the European Union.

13h55 | Interactive Dialogue

Identification of common challenges and unique opportunities in each country.

Discussion on how the dimensions can be adapted to the specific contexts of the other RELOP countries.

Discussion of participants’ specific experiences and how they can apply the principles presented in their local realities.

Q&A Session

14h45 | Conclusion and Resources

Summary of the main points discussed.

Suggestions for other topics to be explored in future Working Group workshops.

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that I greet you all and formally mark the beginning of our work in 2024. I am confident that the year will bring progress and achievements.

On our agenda, we have (i) the continuation of activities carried out by the Working Groups on Communication; Oil, Gas, Their Derivatives and Biofuels; and Energy Transition, which, within their specificities, will contribute to strengthening our institution and sector; (ii) the organisation and development of our Intranet, which will optimise our interaction and exchange of technical information; (iii) technical visits and professional training activities; (iv) strengthening our role as a network of regulators by expanding our involvement in different forums. Here, I highlight the significance of our most recent achievement in joining the International Confederation of Energy Regulators – ICER; (v) visiting the agencies and entities of all countries that make up RELOP to exchange experiences and bring them closer together; and (vi) holding the 2024 General Assembly and Annual Conference in Brazil.

This entails a considerable amount of work, but it is also (and above all) the result of our commitment, dedication, and cooperation.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the support and confidence in the election that took place at the last General Assembly in Cape Verde, resulting in ANEEL assuming the presidency of the RELOP Board. I thank you for this opportunity and pledge to continue working to strengthen RELOP.

Wishing you all a happy 2024.

Hélvio Guerra

On 1 January 2024, Brazil’s National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) assumed the presidency of RELOP’s Board of Directors for the next two years, playing a central role in providing strategic guidance and promoting cooperation between members.

Additionally, Mozambique’s Energy Regulatory Authority (ARENE) has taken on the role of President of the General Assembly and Angola’s National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) will lead the Audit Board.

RELOP’s new governing bodies were unanimously elected on 9 November 2023 at the 18th General Assembly on the island of Sal, Cape Verde. The new appointments reflect the continued commitment to promoting cooperation among Portuguese-speaking regulators in the energy sector.

The new terms will begin on 1 January 2024 and end on 31 December 2025.

Learn more about RELOP’s newly elected governing bodies here.

ALSF and RELOP hosted their second joint legal webinar, this time dedicated to “Drafting Regulations”. The training, which was held on December 12, 2023 and attended by more than 40 participants, provided an in-depth analysis of relevant aspects related to the design of normative acts.

The event, conducted virtually in Portuguese, was moderated by Indira Gomes of the ALSF.

The session was divided into three themes, where participants were guided through a comprehensive analysis of the topic. The discussion involved critical aspects such as legal empowerment, systematization, identification of legal ability, impact assessment, and terms and consultation deadline with interested parties. Evandro Pereira Caldas from Brazil’s National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP), Marisa Vaz Cunha and José Francisco Veiga from Portugal’s Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE), and Hermenegildo Pereira from the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau all contributed to the discussion.

We reaffirm our continued commitment to promoting knowledge exchange among Portuguese speakers. The ALSF-RELOP webinar series will continue to be exclusively in Portuguese, and stands out as a valuable platform for enriching knowledge in the legal and energy sectors in Lusophone Africa. We are grateful to all of the speakers and attendees for making this session a success. We hope that these conversations will foster a positive dialogue in advance of our upcoming sessions, strengthening regional energy sector regulation.

We are pleased to announce that RELOP has joined the International Confederation of Energy Regulators (ICER).

RELOP’s application was unanimously accepted at the ICER Steering Committee meeting, which took place on 9 November. The application was presented at the meeting by RELOP’s president, Luis Fernandes.

Reinforcing our commitment to ICER’s mission, we share the vision of improving public and policy-makers’ awareness and understanding of energy regulation and its crucial role in addressing various socio-economic, environmental and market issues.

This partnership between RELOP and ICER opens doors to meaningful discussions on current energy challenges and the joint search for solutions. ICER represents a voluntary collaboration between energy regulators from around the world, with the aim of increasing public understanding and decision-making on energy regulation and its overarching role in socio-economic, environmental and market issues. By facilitating the sharing of information and best practices, ICER seeks to contribute to the global transition towards more sustainable energy practices.

To find out more about ICER, visit: http://icer-regulators.net/

RELOP’s 18th General Assembly was held on 8 November 2023, on the island of Sal, Cape Verde, with the participation of the Association’s twelve members.

During the meeting, led by Symone Araújo, the General Assembly Chair and representative of Brazil’s National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), the Activities and Budget Plan for 2024 received unanimous approval. Additionally, the proposed initiatives for its implementation were introduced and discussed.

In terms of institutional relations, aimed at fostering cooperation and exchanging experiences, RELOP’s General Assembly members endorsed the Association’s membership in the International Confederation of Energy Regulators and the protocol with the Regional Association of Emerging Countries.

The election of RELOP’s new leadership was a highlight of the Assembly. The voting process resulted in Mozambique’s Energy Regulatory Authority (ARENE) being appointed as the Chair of the General Assembly for the 2024-2025 biennium, Brazil’s National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) as the Chair of the Board, and Angola’s National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) as Chair of the Supervisory Board.

For 2024 year, Brazil will be responsible for organizing the RELOP Conference and General Assembly, in collaboration between ANEEL and ANP.