Author: Carolina Ferreira

On the 22nd of October 2025, RELOP’s XV Anual Conference took place, in Maputo, Mozambique, and gathered over 200 participants.

The event, organised by RELOP, in partnership with ARENE and INP, gathered experts from the energy sector from multiple CPLP countries, who shared more about their perspectives and experiences on the different realities from the energy sector.

This event provided an opportunity to reflect together about the pathways to develop an energy transition that is fair, sustainable, and safe for everyone.

With panels on topics such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the role of regulation in attracting sustainable investment, the challenges and incentives of electric mobility, and energy security and local value, the conference provided an opportunity to learn about the perspectives and experiences of different realities in the energy sector, with perspectives from all Portuguese-speaking countries.

The conference was marked by important discussions about the future of energy in the lusophone community, where it was made clear the fundamental role that regulation should have on the path to an inclusive and sustainable energy transition.

The Thematic Commission on Energy and Climate of the CPLP Consultative Observers, coordinated by ALER and co-coordinated by RELOP, was present at COP30, in Belém do Pará (Brazil), to present the 2030 Roadmap for Cooperation on Energy and Climate in CPLP Countries – a strategic document released in October, in Mozambique, during the I Energy and Climate on CPLP Week. The event took place on Friday, 14th of November, at the Portugal Pavilion, and was live streamed on the Portuguese Ministry of Environment and Energy’s Youtube channel.

The Roadmap developed throughout 2025 through a multilateral process involving governments, regional and international institutions, as well as the private sector, defines four strategic areas of cooperation: Energy Planning; Capacity Building and Leadership; Mobilisation of Financing; and Acceleration of Energy Transitions. More than a common agenda, the document represents a collective vision of transformation, progress and development, serving as a starting point for joint, participatory and results-oriented actions.

Representing the Energy and Climate Thematic Commission of the CPLP Advisory Observers at COP30, Sandoval Feitosa (President of RELOP and Director-General of ANEEL) highlighted the strategic importance of the 2030 Cooperation Roadmap within the CPLP countries: “We are a group of countries spread across four continents, distinct in our realities, but united by a language and cultural heritage that brings us together. It is precisely in this balance between diversity and common identity that lies the strength of the CPLP and our ability to transform cooperation into concrete results.”

Next, Djane Melo (Deputy Coordinator of RELOP’s Energy Transition Group) gave a detailed presentation of the document, highlighting its potential to boost financing, accelerate projects and strengthen the international positioning of CPLP countries. During the presentation, the next steps of the Roadmap were also outlined, including the widespread dissemination of the document with a view to gathering proposals for new initiatives; the involvement of new international partners to support its implementation; the presentation of the progress of the Roadmap and the implementation of its strategic axes during the II CPLP Energy and Climate Week – to be held in May 2026, in Guinea-Bissau; the launch of thematic cooperation platforms in CPLP countries; and coordination with international agendas, including the presentation of the Roadmap’s impact at the next COPs.

The event in Belém consolidated the position of Portuguese-speaking countries as an active, coordinated and committed bloc in the global energy and climate agenda, demonstrating that cooperation between CPLP Member States can be a driver of innovation, investment and solutions tailored to national and regional realities.

On the 21st of October 2025, the CPLP Colloquium on Energy took place, in Maputo, Mozambique, and gathered over 100 participants.

The event, organised by RELOP’s Work Groups in partnership with ALER, gathered experts from the energy sector in order to promote the exchange of knowledge and reflection on strategies for advancing the energy transition in the community of Portuguese-speaking countries.

With panels that touched on themes such as the Energy and Climate Cooperation Roadmap in the CPLP, energy eficiency as a pilar for regulating the energy transition, and the role of gas and oil on energy security, the event served as an important moment of reflection about the current energy situation in CPLP countries. IEA was also present, and shared for the first time their National Climate Resilience Assessment for Mozambique.

RELOP’s Energy Transition Work Group used this opportunity to launch the Fact Sheets that they have been developing, which gather practical examples of measures, policies, and projects implemented in member countries, contributing to a energy transition that is fair, sustainable, and inclusive.

To close the event, there was a round table where several RELOP regulators reflected on the regulatory challenges for the energy transition.

The colloquium was marked by moments of sharing, reflection, and inspiration on the challenges and opportunities of energy transition in the Lusophone countries, where the spirit of openness to joint action was clear. The fundamental role that regulation plays in the path towards an inclusive and sustainable energy transition was highlighted.

The RELOP Working Group on Energy Transition has been developing a set of Fact Sheets that showcase practical examples of measures, policies and projects implemented in member countries, contributing to a fair, sustainable and inclusive energy transition. These fact sheets present, in a concise and comparable manner, the main national initiatives in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric mobility, green hydrogen and other emerging vectors.

Based on the Golden Circle methodology and the Energy Trilemma, the Fact Sheets aim to strengthen knowledge sharing and promote regulatory dialogue among Portuguese-speaking countries, highlighting the role of regulatory bodies and public policies in advancing the energy transition.

See below for fact sheets on each country (Portuguese only):

The third edition of the publication accompanying the CPLP Energy and Climate Seminars is now available.

Dedicated to the 4th CPLP Energy and Climate Seminar and the II CPLP Conference on Energy, which took place in Cascais, on the 27th and 28th of May 2025, this issue gathered summaries of the sessions, articles and highlights from both events.

The II CPLP Conference on Energy, with the theme “Driving a Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Transition for the CPLP” brought together, over two days, 430 participants from all CPLP countries and generated more than 100 news stories. The winner of the Maria Cristina Portugal 2025 Award was also announced at this event.

The CPLP Energy and Climate Magazine is edited and published by ALER, with contributions from RELOP and other partners. For the latest edition, RELOP contributed with the article: “Creating an attractive environment for investment” by the author Cecílio Sacramento, Administrator of the General Regulatory Authority of São Tomé and Príncipe (AGER).

The Working Group on Oil, Gas and Biofuels (GT-PGB), held on August 19th of 2025, a technical session dedicated to the theme “Innovative Technologies in Biofuel Production”, within the context of the energy transition and the promotion of circular economy.

The event counted with the attendance of experts from the University of Aveiro, who presented scientific and technological advances in biomass conversion and the valorisation of organic waste. During the session, Prof. Dr. Luís Tarelho highlighted the challenges of thermochimical processes, such as gasification and pyrolysis, pointing out the heterogeneity of the biomass, the low calorific value and the presence of alkaline ash as technical obstacles. He explained that gasification allows for the production of clean lean gas, with potential for electricity generation in rural areas, while pyrolysis generates biochar and bio-oil with industrial and agricultural applications.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Flávio Silva approached the topic of biotechnological solutions for the use of organic waste, aligned with the principles of the circular economy: waste elimination, maximization of the value of materials and regeneration of natural systems. Different types of bioreactorsv were presented, with a focus on anaerobic digestion, capable of producing biogas, biohydrogen, and value-added compounds. According to the professor, 1 m³ of biogas can generate up to 7.3 kWh of thermal energy.

During the debate, the possibilities of integrating gasification into local energy chains were discussed, as well as the countries who are the most advanced in the production of biogasv and bio-hydrogen. Brazil was quoted as a reference, even though it faces challenges in the efficient purification of those gases.

The session closed with thanks to the participants and the speakers, reinforcing the importance of regional and international cooperation in the construction of sustainable energy solutions that can be adapted to the realities of lusophone countries.