Within the framework of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), the Directorate of Infrastructure and Energy of African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the Directorate of Energy and Mines of ECOWAS Commission, has moved to conduct a Regional Appraisal Workshop on Regulatory Readiness and Institutional Capacity of West African Regional and National Institutions for Continental Electricity Trading, in Abuja Nigeria.
The meeting brought together senior officials from ECOWAS Members states Ministries in charge of Energy, national electricity regulators, West African Power Pool (WAPP), ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) as well continental bodies namely African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR), Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) and African School of Regulation (ASR).
According to ECOWAS Directorate of Communication in a statement on Wednesday, discussion focused on Regulatory Readiness to enable cross-border electricity trading, Institutional Strengthening to efficiently operate within an integrated African electricity market, Utilities Restructuring and Infrastructure Projects required for effective market participation and Policy Harmonization, Market Readiness policies to ensure market readiness for AfSEM implementation and capacity building requirements.
Honorable Abdou Kolley, Chief of Staff, on behalf of the President/Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization of ECOWAS, welcomed the various participants and recalled the efforts and achievements made so far by ECOWAS in building the regional electricity market.
He indicated that the official commissioning in 2023 of the WAPP Information and Coordination Center (ICC), which serves as the “Market System Operator”, and the interconnection of the fourteen ECOWAS inland and coastal Member States, constitute a string foundation to fully thrive within the continental-scale of AfSEM.
He called on participants for a renewed determination to build the regulatory foundations for a truly empowered and interconnected Africa.
Remarks were also made by Representative of Nigeria Ministry of Power, African Development Bank and Head of Energy Division AUC.
The African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), is a flagship initiative of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aspires to establish the world’s largest unified electricity market.
By fostering cross-border electricity trade, AfSEM aims to strengthen Entergy security, accelerate regional integration, and drive sustainable economic transformation across Africa.