Event
EELA Webinar Series: Driving Industrial Energy Efficiency in Africa through MEPS for Industrial Motors
The EELA Program is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar dedicated to Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for industrial motors. The session will bring together experts to present the results of the studies conducted on industrial motors at regional and country-level and explore how MEPS can be effectively designed and implemented to accelerate industrial energy efficiency and support sustainable development and a just energy transition across Africa.
A STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY FOR INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY
Industrial energy consumption remains a central challenge - and opportunity - for African economies. Across multiple regions, industry accounts for a substantial share of national electricity demand, while electric motors alone represent up to 70% of industrial electricity use.
This makes motor systems a critical entry point for improving efficiency, reducing costs for businesses, and easing pressure on national power systems. At the same time, the studies conducted under EELA highlight that a significant proportion of installed motors operate at low efficiency levels, with IE0 and IE1 classes representing more than 60% of the installed stock in several countries. This indicates a considerable, yet still largely untapped, opportunity to achieve cost-effective energy savings and productivity gains.
EVIDENCE-BASED INSIGHTS ACROSS THREE REGIONS
The webinar builds on a comprehensive analytical effort covering the East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), complemented by in-depth country analyses in Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The studies combined multiple methodologies, including:
-
Desk research and policy analysis across more than 10 international MEPS frameworks
-
Primary data collection from industrial facilities, including surveys of over 40,000 motors across the three countries
-
Stakeholder interviews with regulators, industry representatives, financial institutions, and technology providers
-
Regional benchmarking and validation through partnerships with EACREEE, SACREEE, and ECREEE
These analyses confirm not only the scale of the opportunity, but also the key barriers to adoption, notably affordability constraints, limited access to tailored financing, and the need for short investment payback periods.
FROM TECHNICAL POTENTIAL TO MARKET TRANSFORMATION FOR A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION
MEPS provide a practical and proven mechanism to address these challenges. By setting a mandatory minimum efficiency threshold, MEPS can shift markets toward higher-performance technologies, without requiring complex decision-making from end-users.
By unlocking energy savings, improving industrial competitiveness, and reducing emissions, MEPS for industrial motors contribute directly to a just and clean energy transition. This creates a real pathway to align economic growth with sustainability objectives and strengthen the resilience of the energy systems.
This upcoming webinar will provide a platform to share insights, exchange experiences, and discuss practical pathways for the design and implementation of MEPS across diverse African markets.
Join us to explore how MEPS can drive industrial transformation and support sustainable development across the continent.
WEBINAR AGENDA
The session will be moderated by Ms. Jihane Bakounoure, ECREEE.
14:00–14:10: Welcome Remarks, Ms. Karin Reiss-Haimbala, EELA Program Manager, UNIDO
14:10–14:20: Opening Remarks, Mr. Readlay Makaliki, Lead Technical Expert, SACREEE
14:20–14:30: Scene Setting, Ms. Rashmi Jawahar, UNIDO
14:30–15:10: Presentation of the key findings and Industrial Motors MEPS Guidelines, Dr. Evan Murimi, Ms. Irene Boghdadi, Chemonics Egypt Consultants
15:10–15:20: Q&A, Ms. Jihane Bakounoure, ECREEE
15:20–15:30: Closing Remarks, Mr. Denis Ariho, Lead Technical Expert, EACREEE