On Wednesday, 31 January, Med-TSO convened a strategic workshop in Cairo, setting the stage for the Association’s future endeavours. The event marked a crucial step in shaping the forthcoming Action Plan for 2025-2030, uniting key stakeholders and members in a collaborative effort. Discussions centred on defining mandates, technical activities, and regional positioning.
A Strategic Team, composed of members of the Executive Board, representatives appointed by the Members, and selected individuals from the Technical Committees, was established prior to the meeting. Directed by the General Assembly in November 2023, this team will develop an initial proposal for updating the Association’s action plan, focusing on concrete impacts in the region.
Discussions during the workshop aimed to conclude with a proposal encompassing a clearly defined mandate from the Association’s members and outcomes of preliminary discussions.
Opened by President Sabah Mashaly and moderated by Secretary General Angelo Ferrante, the workshop was structured around key thematic areas:
1. Stakeholders engagement
Remote participation from stakeholders, including the European Commission (EC), DG ENER and DG NEAR, League of Arab States (LAS), the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG), the Organisation Méditerranéenne de l’Energie et du Climat (OMEC), Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), allowed for the identification of expectations and collaborative opportunities to enhance regional energy integration.
2. 2025-2030 Mandate definition
Representatives within the Strategic Team presented TSO priorities and discussed how Med-TSO can actively support their realisation. Discussions explored current challenges and initiatives, fostering brainstorming on enablers and tools for transformative change. Participants also discussed the evolving role of TSOs within the Energy Transition, uncovering strategies to drive progress.
3. Technical activities, positioning, and Members’ benefits
The Strategic Team split into subgroups exploring Grid Planning Studies and the impact of Med-TSO’s studies on long-term infrastructure development and national plans, Regional Market Development and Med-TSO’s role in facilitating smoother electricity trading among members and bridging market gaps, and Med-TSO Positioning, assessing Med-TSO’s current influence within the region and exploring the potential significance of extending its scope to include other interconnected regions.
The workshop concluded with a synthesis of key insights and outlined actionable next steps. Proposals generated during the workshop will undergo further evaluation by the Executive Board in February. These will then be presented to the General Assembly in May 2024 for final consideration.
