Key points
- ECOWAS says West Africa continues to face significant electricity shortages despite abundant energy resources.
- The regional body identified low access rates, high transmission costs and inadequate generation capacity as major challenges.
- ECOWAS highlighted several policies adopted over the years to improve energy access and sustainability.
- The commission is promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and emerging technologies such as green hydrogen.
- Officials say the goal is to achieve universal access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy services.
Main Story
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said the sub-region’s persistent electricity shortages remain a major development challenge despite its vast endowment of energy resources.
The Acting Head of Conventional Energy at ECOWAS, Mr Koumoin Arbaduis, stated this during the ECOWAS Parliament Delocalised Joint Committee Meeting on Energy and Mines; Infrastructure; Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources in Dakar, Senegal.
The five-day meeting, which began on Monday, is themed, “Harnessing Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification and Empowerment of Rural Economies in the ECOWAS Region: The Role of ECOWAS Parliament.”
Presenting a paper titled “ECOWAS Regional Energy Policies and Key Energy Statistics,” Arbaduis said West Africa continues to grapple with inadequate electricity supply, low access rates and high transmission costs despite possessing some of the world’s most significant energy resources.
According to him, the region is endowed with crude oil, natural gas, biomass resources, uranium, coal and an estimated 25,000 megawatts of hydroelectric potential.
He identified key challenges facing the sector as insufficient power generation capacity, low electricity access, high technical and commercial losses, expensive power generation and transmission systems, and heavy reliance on petroleum products.
Arbaduis said ECOWAS has adopted a series of regional frameworks and policies over the years to address these challenges and accelerate sustainable energy development across member states.
He noted that the first ECOWAS Energy Policy, adopted in 1982 following the global oil crises of the 1970s, laid the foundation for regional cooperation in energy supply, electricity grid integration and petroleum exploration.
According to him, the 2003 ECOWAS Energy Protocol established a legal framework for investment, cooperation and trade in the energy sector and provided the basis for the West African Power Pool initiative.
He added that the 2006 ECOWAS/UEMOA White Paper on Access to Energy Services for Rural and Peri-urban Populations was designed to expand electricity access in underserved communities.
Arbaduis further highlighted the adoption of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy and the ECOWAS Energy Efficiency Policy in 2013 to increase the share of clean energy in the region’s electricity mix and improve energy utilisation.
He said the commission subsequently adopted the ECOWAS Bioenergy Policy and the Policy for Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access in 2017 to promote inclusive participation in the energy sector.
According to him, ECOWAS also adopted the Green Hydrogen Policy Framework and Strategy in 2023, with a target of producing at least 0.5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
He said the revised ECOWAS Energy Policy adopted in July 2023 was intended to address evolving economic, technological and climate realities while promoting universal access to affordable and reliable energy.
The Issues
- Persistent electricity shortages despite abundant energy resources.
- Low electricity access rates across rural and underserved communities.
- High generation, transmission and distribution costs.
- Dependence on fossil fuels and the need to accelerate clean energy adoption.
What’s Being Said
- Koumoin Arbaduis said: “There is need to bridge the regional electricity gap, as the sub-region’s abundant resources contrast sharply with the prevailing power shortages and limited electricity access in West Africa.”
- He said: “The overarching vision is to build a community with access to modern, reliable and sustainable energy services for improved living standards and socio-economic development.”
- Arbaduis said: “Sustainable energy development must be inclusive and ensure equal participation of women and men in the sector.”
What’s Next
- ECOWAS will continue implementing regional energy frameworks aimed at improving electricity access.
- Member states are expected to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.
- The commission will pursue its green hydrogen strategy and broader goals of universal access to affordable and reliable energy services.
Bottom Line
ECOWAS says West Africa’s energy challenges remain significant despite its vast natural resource base, and is relying on a mix of regional policies, renewable energy initiatives and emerging technologies to close the electricity access gap and drive sustainable development.
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