The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is reviewing proposed regulatory measures to strengthen its regional electricity market, promote energy storage technologies and improve the market’s financial sustainability.
The review is taking place at a two-day meeting of energy experts in Accra, Ghana, bringing together representatives of energy ministries across ECOWAS member states, the ECOWAS Commission and its institutions, as well as the West African Economic and Monetary Union.
According to a statement published on the ECOWAS Commission’s website, the experts are examining proposed regulatory instruments and will make recommendations for consideration by the region’s energy ministers.
One of the instruments is a draft directive on the deployment of battery energy storage systems and other energy storage technologies, proposed by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
The experts are also reviewing a draft regulation submitted by the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority to amend Regulation C/REG.14/12/23 on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy.
In addition, the meeting is considering five memoranda submitted for the information of ministers.
The deliberations form part of preparations for the ECOWAS Energy Ministers’ meeting in Accra, where ministers are expected to consider the experts’ recommendations and decide on the proposed instruments.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission and the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation, the Commission’s Director of Energy and Mines, Mr Arkadius Koumoin, highlighted the importance of the meeting’s outcomes to the region’s energy development.
He said the recommendations would provide a solid foundation for promoting energy storage technologies, strengthening the financial sustainability of the regional electricity market and improving access to reliable and affordable electricity across West Africa.
The Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition of Ghana, Richard Mensah, who declared the meeting open, expressed confidence that the discussions would produce practical recommendations to advance the region’s energy agenda.
He said the expected outcomes would bring West Africa closer to achieving universal and sustainable access to energy.
