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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commissioner for Transport, Energy, Mining, Water Resources, Telecommunications, and Postal Services, Sediko Douka, has disclosed that member states will soon commence the exchanges, purchases and sales of electricity to make tariffs more competitive in the sub-region.
Sediko also said the development will ensure coverage of demand in the sub-region, which currently stands at only 60 percent.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, Sediko said a total number of 14 countries out of the 15 ECOWAS member states were interconnected, except Cabo Verde.
Sediko however explained that Cabo Verde would soon be rectified via the implementation of a high-voltage submarine cable, with feasibility studies due to start shortly.
He further said what was required was enough independent energy producers to cover the electricity demand of West African sub-region.
While saying that a lot of developmental projects were ongoing, Sediko however said unfortunately, many perceived the sub-regional body solely as a regional organization that was focused exclusively on political, peace, and security issues.
Sediko stated that ECOWAS had put up specialized agencies in the field of energy, including the West African Power Pool in Cotonou, Republic of Benin; the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) in Accra, Ghana, the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Praia, Cape Verde, and the West African Gas Pipeline Authority in Abuja, Nigeria to enhance productivity.
Sediko also said the regional electricity market was launched in June 2018, with its implementation overseen by ERERA and WAPP.
He explained that ERERA acts as the regulator to ensure the smooth conduct of operations and to impose sanctions when necessary.
Sediko added that to formalize existing electricity exchanges between countries, the Information and Coordination Center (CIC), which has been operational since its inauguration in October 2023, managed the Regional Electricity Market while supervising its operations.
“To date, 14 out of the 15 member states are interconnected. In fact, all 14 mainland countries of ECOWAS are interconnected. Only the 15th country, Cabo Verde, remains unconnected, which will soon be rectified through the implementation of a high-voltage submarine cable, with feasibility studies due to start shortly.
“Consequently, starting from 2024, electricity exchanges (both purchases and sales) will be possible, making tariffs more competitive and ensuring coverage of demand, which currently stands at only 60 percent. What’s interesting here is that all you need is enough independent energy producers to cover demand,” Sediko said.
In the area of renewable energy development, Sediko said several projects were underway with the objective of increasing energy capacity and access to electricity, particularly for rural populations.
“Since 2018, the efforts of the ECREEE Center have led to the installation of an additional total capacity of 768 MW of renewable energies in the region,” Sediko said.
Sediko listed key projects in the renewable energy sector to include the Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP), the Sustainable Development Project through Renewable Energies in Southeastern Senegal, the GEF Cabo Verde IV project, among others.
