On 27th March 2026, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) led by Mr Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Director General participated in the Brazil-Kenya Technical Seminar on Energy Network Planning held at the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) of Brazil in Brasilia, Brazil.
The Seminar was chaired by Camila Olsen, General Coordinator of the International Affairs Advisory Office at the MME, who delivered the opening and welcome remarks. She highlighted the structure of the Ministry, including its various secretariats, and underscored Brazil’s significant progress in the energy sector. Notably, Brazil has increased the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix from 50% in 2021 to approximately 90% in 2026, while achieving about 98% universal access to electricity.
In his remarks, Mr Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Director General of EPRA emphasized Kenya’s interest in strengthening collaboration with Brazil, particularly in areas such as competitive energy procurement through auctions, development of power markets, and integrated energy planning frameworks. These efforts are expected to support Kenya’s goal of expanding electricity access to the remaining 24% of its population.
The Technical Seminar was structured into three key sessions.
The first session on Grid Planning was coordinated by the National Secretariat for Energy Transiotion and Planning (SNTEP) of the Ministry. This session featured presentations by Roberto Rodrigues Loiola, Infrastructure Analyst, and Maiara Guimarães Rios, Head of Division, both from the Department of Planning and Authorization of Electricity Transmission and Distribution. The session focused on Brazil’s approaches to long-term grid expansion and infrastructure authorization.
The second session was on Monitoring of the Brazilian Power Systems. Presentations were delivered by Guilherme Godoi, Program Director at the Office of the National Secretariat of Electric Energy, and Victor Protázio da Silva, Director in the Department of Electrical System Operations Performance. Discussions centered on system monitoring frameworks and operational performance oversight.
The third session was on Policies to Address Energy Poverty ledl by the National Secretariat of Electric Energy (SNEE). Eduardo Duarte Faria, General Coordinator for Universal Access to Energy showcased a presentation on the Brazilian Universal Access to Electricity Program (Luz Para Todos-Light for All), which has connected approximately 17.9 million people to electricity since its inception in 2003. The program has also delivered environmental benefits, including reducing deforestation, saving an estimated 31 million trees, and avoiding approximately 114,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya representatives, led by Mary Kirui, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., also participated in the Technical Seminar. Their presence underscored the Embassy’s commitment to strengthening Kenya–Brazil bilateral relations in the energy sector, while providing strategic support and coordination to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) delegation during their official engagements in Brazil.
The seminar underscored the strong potential for enhanced bilateral cooperation between Brazil and Kenya in the energy sector. It is anticipated that continued engagement between the Ministry of Mines and Energy and Kenya’s Ministry of Energy will foster knowledge exchange and support the advancement of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient energy systems in both countries.
