(III) with the aim of ensuring, coordinating and harmonizing the protection, conservation, development, rational exploitation, commercialization and integration of energy resources on the African continent.
As per the convention, AFREC’s mandates are broad and covers all the elements of African energy sector according to Article 3 (Guiding Principles) and Article 4 (AFREC functions) of the convention: In April 1980, the Assembly of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) adopted the Lagos Plan of Action (LPA) in Lagos (Nigeria).
In this meeting, short-, medium- and long-term actions were proposed to remedy the main energy problems of Africa.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with OAU and ECA, carried out in 1984-1985 a study which recommended the creation of the AFREC.
AFREC was then created by Decision AHG/Dec.167 (XXXVII) of the 37th Summit of the OAU African Heads of States and Governments which was held in Lusaka, Zambia, on 11 July 2001.