Tripoli: Member of the House of Representatives Abdul Qader Hassan Yahya, who is part of the Committee on Transport, Communications, Science and Technology, Energy and Industry of the Pan-African Parliament, actively participated in the committee's meetings during the Seventh Legislative Session and the First Ordinary Sitting at the Pan-African Parliament's headquarters in Midrand, Republic of South Africa.
According to Libyan News Agency, MP Abdul Qader Hassan Yahya emphasized the necessity of addressing all issues under the committee's jurisdiction comprehensively, rather than concentrating solely on specific topics. During discussions on regional energy crises and strategies for promoting energy stability across Africa, he highlighted the ongoing challenges within Libya's electricity sector.
The committee, chaired by Vice-Chairperson Haji Mbow, explored several technical and strategic matters. It received insights from Rashid Ali Abdullah, Executive Director of the African Energy Commission (AFREC), who detailed the commission's objectives, the current energy landscape in Africa, and its initiatives aimed at supporting energy transitions, enhancing efficiency, and fostering smart grid technologies. Additionally, he underscored AFREC's pivotal role in accumulating and recording data pertinent to Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aspires to provide universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
Dr. Collins Omondi, Acting Executive Secretary of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), also addressed the committee, highlighting the commission's endeavors, the evolution of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, and the significance of the Pelindaba Treaty. His presentation covered the commission's efforts in averting nuclear proliferation and promoting the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology, including its uses in healthcare, food security, water management, and industrial sectors. He also mentioned capacity-building programs developed in collaboration with the European Union.
Concluding his presentation, Dr. Omondi put forward recommendations aimed at bolstering cooperation between the Pan-African Parliament and AFCONE through a proposed memorandum of understanding. This proposal was well-received, with committee members agreeing to further examine and align it with the Pan-African Parliament's strategic framework.
The meetings also linked their discussions to the African Union's 2026 theme: "Ensuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063."
The sessions of the permanent committees and the First Ordinary Sitting of the Pan-African Parliament's Seventh Legislative Session are scheduled in Midrand, Republic of South Africa, from July 17 to August 1, 2026.