In this article published in “La Tribune Afrique”, Paul Elfassi, partner in the Energy department, and Anaïs Reilhac explain the challenges related to the regional electricity market in West Africa. 

“Our main goal is to increase regional cooperation and access to electricity by harmonising the policies and programmes of ECOWAS State Member, interconnecting West Africa, and developing renewable energy with a view to the creation of a regional electricity market.” 

These words of Sédiko Douka, the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Commissioner in charge of energy and mines, encapsulate the goal of the organisation’s State Member, which waterdised with the launch of a regional electricity market on 29 June 2018 in Cotonou, Benin.  

Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, the ECOWAS President, described the ECOWAS regional electricity market as “fundamental” and “critical” to West Africa’s development.  

However, despite the fact that a regional electricity market would be of significant interest, it faces legal constraints that hinder its development.  

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