Energy experts from ECOWAS Member States over the weekend met in Cotonou, Benin to consider and validate three major legal texts which will help strengthen the regulatory framework for the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market.
The texts are the Directive for the Harmonisation of the Criteria for the Granting of Licences and Authorisation to Participate in the Regional Electricity Market; the Regulation on the Surveillance of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market; and the Regulation on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy.
While the Directive on the harmonisation of the criteria for granting licenses and authorisation for participation in the regional electricity market is expected to promote a level-playing field for cross-border electricity trade among ECOWAS Member States, the Regional Electricity Market Supervision Regulation will establish rules and procedures for the supervision of participants in cross-border power trade to promote a favourable regional approach to investment and capacity development.
For its part, the Regional Electricity Market Fee Regulation seeks to establish a fee to finance the operation and functioning of the regional power market and ensure its effective supervision and regulation.
Participants were treated to presentations on the ECOWAS Regional Green Hydrogen Strategy and Action Plans 2023-2030 and 2031-2050 as well as the commencement of the implementation of the ECOWAS Updated Energy Policy.
They also received briefings on the state of progress of the studies for the development of a single gas pipeline project for the ECOWAS region, involving the merger of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP).
The energy experts are drawn from the Ministries of Energy, the ECOWAS Commission and specialized institutions and agencies including the Directorate of Energy and Mines, the Directorate of Legal Affairs, the West African Power Pool (WAPP), the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA).
Commissioner Douka, represented by the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Benin, Mr. Amadou Diongue, stated that the legal texts “are major prerequisites to ensure the proper functioning of our electricity market on a clear and fair basis for all participants.”
