National energy masterplan development

In partnership with IRENA and GIZ, the Senegal Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) is implementing a training programme to build capacity in long-term energy planning among the public institutions of Senegal’s energy sector. Using IRENA’s SPLAT-MESSAGE model for power system capacity expansion planning, the programme will provide in-depth training on scenario development, and a platform to enhance institutional capacity to own and implement long-term national plans.

The programme includes the creation of a national working team, further development of the SPLAT-Senegal national model, multiple hands-on training sessions, and support to draft a masterplan document which can be utilized in Senegal’s official planning process. The work of the programme is harmonised with the Continental Power System Masterplan (CMP) being developed by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), supported by IRENA as modelling partner.

For more details on the various events in this programme, see:

• Senegal Masterplan Development Support Programme – Kick-off meeting
• Senegal Masterplan Development Support Programme – First training course
• Senegal Masterplan Development Support Programme – Second training course

IRENA and the government of Cameroon have undertaken a joint capacity building programme to enhance energy planning capacity within Cameroon’s national energy ministry, Cameroon’s NDC revision team from the environment ministry, as well as various other governmental institutions.

The programme consisted of an e-learning course for the capacity expansion software MESSAGE (implemented with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)), 4 full-week remote training workshops on long-term planning with renewables and the IRENA SPLAT-MESSAGE modelling framework, and tutoring support for modelling and preparation of a national masterplan.

In total, an official working team of around 20 experts across four divisions of the Ministry of Energy and Water, the Ministry of Environment, national utility and transmission company, and Rural Electrification Agency received over 250 hours of training, enabling them to prepare a customised SPLAT-Cameroon model and a national renewable energy master plan for the electricity sector.

The programme has more firmly established long-term energy planning practices in the Ministry, and has identified large-scale renewable energy potential that is being further explored for investment. A highlight summary of the overall programme and its conclusions can be found here: English, French.

For more details on the various events in this programme, see:

• Capacity Building on Long-Term Energy Planning in the Republic of Cameroon: Training course #1
• Capacity Building on Long-Term Energy Planning in the Republic of Cameroon: Training course #2
• Capacity Building on Long-Term Energy Planning in the Republic of Cameroon: Training course #3
• Capacity Building on Long-Term Energy Planning in the Republic of Cameroon: Training course #4
• Capacity Building on Long-Term Energy Planning in the Republic of Cameroon: Final Consultation Workshop

IRENA and the government of the Republic of Sierra Leone are undertaking a joint energy planning capacity-building programme. The Programme’s objective is for Sierra Leone to establish a national energy planning unit for energy statistics and long-term energy planning, and to develop the capacity to independently prepare and regularly update a national energy masterplan.

In line with the objectives of the Programme, IRENA provides a team of around 20 national energy sector staff (the national ‘working team’) with the means and tools for working with energy sector data, designing energy planning scenarios and developing a comprehensive national energy masterplan document.

The Programme consists of a series of four training courses. This includes training on MESSAGE software, the IRENA System Planning Test (SPLAT) model, data management, scenario design and masterplan development. The Programme also engages with national energy sector decision-makers to ensure that results can be adequately translated into policy and implementation. For details on the specific activities and training courses under the national Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme:

• Scoping mission and online MESSAGE training course
• Energy Planning Capacity Building Sierra Leone - National training course 1: Model Development
• Energy Planning Capacity Building Sierra Leone - National training course 2: Scenario Development
• Energy Planning Capacity Building Sierra Leone - National training course 3: Masterplan Development

In 2016, IRENA and the government of the Kingdom of Eswatini[1] (then known as Swaziland) established a joint Energy Planning Capacity-building Programme.

From April 2016 to October 2018, IRENA provided energy planning support to Estwatini, including trainings on the System Planning Test (SPLAT) least-cost optimization model, data management and scenario development. Based on the trainings, the national experts formed a national Working Team, and applied energy planning tools for both energy demand and supply for preparation of a national energy masterplan. The process of developing the energy masterplan was supported by IRENA as needed. The draft masterplan was presented and discussed at a national stakeholder workshop in 2017. The Energy Masterplan 2034 was approved by cabinet and formally launched on 25 October 2018. For details on the national energy planning support programme:

• IRENA-Swaziland Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme: Scenario Building
• IRENA-Swaziland Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme: Masterplan Development
• IRENA-Swaziland Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme: Consultation Workshop
• IRENA-Eswatini Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme: Masterplan 2034 Launch

[1] The Kingdom of Eswatini, previously known as the Kingdom of Swaziland, officially changed its name on 19 April 2018.