▁of ▁the ▁Organisation ▁of ▁African ▁Unity ▁( O AU ) ▁African ▁He ads ▁of ▁States ▁and ▁Govern ments ▁which ▁was ▁held ▁in ▁L us aka , ▁Z amb ia , ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁and ▁was ▁launched ▁by ▁the ▁African ▁Union ▁Minister s ▁in ▁charge ▁of ▁Energy ▁in ▁the ▁meeting ▁held ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁– ▁ 1 7 ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁in ▁Al gi ers , ▁Al ger ia ▁through ▁the ▁Al gi ers ▁Dec laration ▁A U / EX P / EN / Dec l .( III ) ▁with ▁the ▁aim ▁of ▁ens uring , ▁coordin ating ▁and ▁harm on izing ▁the ▁protection , ▁conservation , ▁development , ▁rational ▁explo itation , ▁commercial ization ▁and ▁integration ▁of ▁energy ▁resources ▁on ▁the ▁African ▁continent . ▁▁ ▁The ▁activities ▁and ▁programs ▁of ▁AF RE C ▁are ▁based ▁on ▁AF RE C ▁Convention ▁decided ▁by ▁African ▁He ads ▁of ▁States ▁and ▁Govern ments , ▁Ag enda ▁ 2 0 6 3 , ▁African ▁Union ▁Commission ▁( A UC ) ▁Str ateg ic ▁Plan . ▁As ▁per ▁the ▁convention , ▁AF RE C ’ s ▁mand ates ▁are ▁broad ▁and ▁covers ▁all ▁the ▁elements ▁of ▁African ▁energy ▁sector ▁according ▁to ▁Article ▁ 3 ▁( Gu iding ▁Princi ples ) ▁and ▁Article ▁ 4 ▁( AF RE C ▁functions ) ▁of ▁the ▁convention : ▁▁ ▁Develop ▁policies , ▁strateg ies , ▁research es ▁and ▁plans ▁based ▁on ▁Member ▁states , ▁sub - reg ional , ▁regional ▁and