WAPP Chairman Reaffirms Commitment Towards Competitive Regional Electricity Market

In his opening remarks, the Minister of Munes, Petroleum and Energy, Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, emphasized that access to electricity is a fundamental right and a vital necessity, highlighting the scale of resources required to meet growing regional electricity demands.

Mr. Coulibaly called for more  collaborative efforts across the ECOWAS member States, saying “We must work together, pooling our financial and natural resources to make it work.”

He also stressed the importance of cross-border cooperation, describing energy as a resource that transcends barriers.

Commending WAPP for its vital role in promoting regional integration, the Minister reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to advancing energy production and sharing to support the  ECOWAS community’s growing electricity needs.

Speaking at the event, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization, Mr. Sediko Douka, provided an overview of ongoing efforts to enhance the electricity sector.

Mr. Douka, underscored the importance of robust institutional and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure development, and improved energy access.

According to him, the challenges such as the demand-supply deficit and low electricity access remain critical barriers to the sector’s progress.

Mr. Douka commended the progress made through the ECOWAS Master Plans for Electricity Generation and Transmission and the successful interconnection of 14 out of 15 ECOWAS countries and the near-completion of network synchronization.

These efforts, he said are pivotal in establishing a reliable and cost-effective energy supply.

He however announced that final approvals for the WAPP Network Code and the Methodology for Regional Transmission Tariffs are expected by the end of the year, laying the foundation for the second phase of the regional electricity market.

Earlier, Acting Secretary General of WAPP, Nazif Abdukadir, presented key achievements, including the operationalization of the Regional Market Information and Coordination Center (ICC) and the commissioning of the CLSG and OMVG transmission lines, which now interconnect all 14 mainland ECOWAS Countries.

He also highlighted the successful pilot phase of the Regional Electricity Market and ongoing preparations for the second phase, which will integrate financial transactions and settlement systems.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Technical and Financial Partners of WAPP and the Deputy Director of KfW in Abidjan, Mrs. Clara Winkler-Tomety,

acknowledged the region’s challenges in establishing a competitive electricity market.

She emphasized the importance of adopting environmentally sustainable strategies and commended WAPP for laying a strong foundation for regional energy integration calling for more  collective commitment of WAPP’s Technical and Financial Partners to continue their partnership with the West African Power Pool.

Earlier in the week, the General Assembly was preceded by meetings of the WAPP Organizational Committees of experts from member countries and member utilities.

The Chairman of Strategic Planning & Environmental Committee who also chaired the session of the Joint Committees’ meeting, Kabiru M. Adamu, GM (System Planning & Development) – TCN, noted that the robust engagement and the constructive dialogue during the meetings underscored the strength of collaboration and shared determination of the committees’ members to advance the mission of WAPP.

He further expressed confidence that the resolutions and recommendations from the meeting will contribute to the realization of an integrated, reliable and sustainable regional electricity grid.

As WAPP advances toward a unified electricity market, sustained collaboration remains essential and It is crucial for all participating utilities to align their regulatory frameworks and adopt innovative approaches to ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for the ECOWAS region.