Seychelles Energy Commission |07 May 2022

Seychelles Energy Commission chief executive Tony Imaduwa addressing the participants (Photos: Joena Meme

Stakeholders review two legislations, four regulations

As part of the process to the review the energy legislations and regulations, the Seychelles Energy Commission organised a workshop with relevant stakeholders yesterday.

The workshop took place at the Citizens Engagement Platform of Seychelles (Ceps) conference room.

The Seychelles Energy Commission (Sec) had an introductory meeting with the consultants and relevant stakeholders as a first step, followed by a virtual workshop in March 2022. This workshop provided a more detailed presentation of the two legislations and four regulations. The two legislations are the Electricity bill and the Regulatory Bill and the four regulations are the Licence Regulations; Distributed Energy Regulations; Independent Power Producer Procurement Regulations; and Tariff Regulations.

Electricity Bill

The Electricity Bill will set rules for a power system that has evolved and has new demands and challenges promoting an efficient and resilient power sector for the future; set mandate and governance for an integrated electricity planning (IEP); define activities; networks activities are regulated on exclusivity in an area; generation is not exclusive meaning there will be more than one generator in this sector; competitive procurement of generation capacity as per the IEP; define licensing and authorisation obligations; set tariff principles (efficient cost-recovery principle); define consumers’ rights and set dispute resolution mechanism; and define functions of key institutions. Mandate to Regulatory Agency to approve tariffs

Regulatory Bill

The Regulatory Bill will set up a new multi-sectoral regulatory agency, which includes electricity, water and sanitation which should be ideally a fully independent agency; provide the decision making process of the regulator and list the objects, functions and powers of the regulatory authority. The bill also lists the functions and duties of the board with three full-time board members with specific criteria for selection and appointed by President, approved by National Assembly (at least one with expertise in each regulated sector). This has been proposed but can be amended after further consultation.

The board members have a five-year term with limited re-appointment for board member and the bill also defines the source of funding for the authority.

Bernice Charles, principal officer of the Seychelles Energy Commission, noted that this workshop is the culmination of a few years’ work.

“Since 2016, we have been trying to get the energy act reviewed and updated as we found a lot of gaps in it. After looking for financing for the project, finally in 2020/2021, the World Bank agreed to finance the project and they got consultant Mercados-Aries to work with us. After providing them with the draft, they put together the draft legislations. Also we invited stakeholders from the public and private sector to talk about the legislation. We need everyone to be onboard. Today we are discussing about the two bills and the four regulations but we have a long list of regulations. As a regulator, we need to ensure that there is a balance playing field where the private sector can also participate on a fair ground but also consumer protection is important,” noted Ms Charles.

The Bills and regulations have been reviewed by stakeholders and the workshop provided them with another opportunity to ask questions and provide further inputs before the documents are finalised. It will also be a way to learn more about the changes that will occur in the electricity sector.

The workshop was opened by Seychelles Energy Commission chief executive Tony Imaduwa and more than 20 people from different sectors attended the whole day meeting.

Vidya Gappy