Uche Cecil Izuora
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) has called on member utilities to settle outstanding financial obligation as it announced steps towards entering another development stage.
The WAPP, says the second phase of the regional electricity market is expected to be launched early next year as efforts continue to strengthen cross-border electricity trading and improve power supply across the sub-region.
Chairman of the WAPP Executive Board, Sule Abdulaziz, said finance is key to achieving progress as he urged member utilities to fulfil their financial obligations, describing statutory contributions as critical to WAPP’s autonomy and operational capacity.
“Statutory contributions are not a formality; they are the basis of WAPP’s autonomy and capacity to act,” he said.
He called on member utilities to settle their outstanding contributions while the secretariat continues efforts to reduce costs without weakening its critical functions.
The Secretary-General of WAPP, Abdoulaye Dia, said the call was made at the 68th meeting of the WAPP Executive Board held recently in Lomé, Togo.
According to a statement by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Dia said the organisation has continued to implement guidelines on institutional strengthening and the progressive operationalisation of the independent system and market operator.
He said the process includes functional and accounting unbundling, as well as an orderly transition that will allow the WAPP Information and Coordination Centre to maintain operational continuity during the second phase of the regional electricity market.
Dia stated that the progress made by the organisation and its increased visibility has attracted new partnerships, reaffirming the secretariat’s commitment to developing an integrated, reliable and competitive regional electricity system ahead of the planned market launch.
The meeting also discussed the restructuring study on the operationalisation of the independent system and market operator, which is intended to align the regional electricity market with best practices and mitigate political interference as the market evolves.
On his part, Abdulaziz, maintained that the implementation of earlier decisions on the independent system and market operator must be supported by sound legal, institutional and financial frameworks that protect the interests of the organisation and its members.
Abdulaziz, who was unanimously re-elected chairman for another three-year term, said the board has a responsibility to ensure that decisions taken at its meetings strengthen WAPP’s capacity to respond to the region’s energy needs.
He recalled that the board’s 67th meeting had approved principles for the progressive establishment of the independent system and market operator while preserving operational continuity through the transitional role of the information and coordination centre.
On the planned regional market, Abdulaziz said network synchronisation is a major technical achievement that requires coordinated system operation, appropriate security arrangements and market readiness among participants and stakeholders.
He said the regional electricity market can only fulfil its potential if it operates under clearly understood rules, reliable data, credible financial mechanisms and independent, effective governance.
The board also reviewed the status of member contributions and the regional power pool’s 2025 financial statements, with the Secretary-General stressing that regular funding, rigorous management and collective discipline are essential to the organisation’s credibility and service delivery.
The Board adopted the Charter of the Forum for Women in Energy in West Africa and a memorandum of understanding with the Millennium Challenge Account Ivory Coast.
It also reviewed membership applications from four utilities seeking to join the regional power pool.
The applicants are Konexa from Nigeria; SOGESART, the Société de Gestion de l’Énergie de Sambangalou et du Réseau de Transport d’Électricité, from Senegal; SOGEOH, the Société de Gestion de l’Énergie des Ouvrages du Haut Bassin du Fleuve Sénégal; and HOLDEN-Niger SARL, an independent power producer from Niger.
The four applications are expected to be ratified at the WAPP General Assembly scheduled to hold before the end of the year.
The meeting also welcomed new representatives of member utilities to the board, including Lawrent Tossou, Managing Director of Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique, representing Benin; Amidou Traore, Director General of CI-ENERGIES; and Julien Sagna, representing Société de Gestion de l’Énergie de Manantali