Lomé, the capital of Togo, recently hosted the inaugural West Africa Energy Cooperation Summit (WA-ECS). This event marks a significant milestone for a region where nearly half the population still lacks access to electricity.
Held under the auspices of the Togolese government with support from the World Bank, the summit brought together policymakers, investors, and private sector leaders under the theme “Building Energy Sovereignty for Sustainable Development.” Togolese Prime Minister Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé opened the proceedings with a call for strategic partnerships to address the region’s pressing energy needs.
With an average electrification rate of just 56%, West Africa faces an alarming energy deficit. In some countries, only 30% of the population has access to electricity, compared to over 70% in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. The situation is even more dire in rural areas, where 80% of residents lack energy access, hindering education, healthcare, and economic growth. According to the World Bank, these deficiencies cost the region up to 4% of its annual GDP.
Despite persistent challenges, the region boasts considerable energy potential. Exploitable hydropower resources, estimated at 5,000 MW, are only 20% utilized. Solar and wind energy, abundant in the Sahel, remain largely untapped. Meanwhile, recent discoveries of natural gas reserves in Senegal, Mauritania, and Côte d’Ivoire present promising opportunities.
To meet growing demand, the ECOWAS energy infrastructure master plan (2019–2033) outlines the addition of 16,000 MW of installed capacity and the construction of 23,000 km of interconnection lines. Since 2020, over $5 billion has been invested in major projects, reducing production costs by 30% to 40% in several countries.
Several initiatives highlight progress in regional energy cooperation. The 350-km Ghana-Togo-Benin interconnection line is now operational, while another 1,303-km line links Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Additionally, the 678-km West African Gas Pipeline, connecting Nigeria to Ghana, plays a strategic role in energy integration.
A more ambitious project, the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, is set to span 6,850 km across 16 countries. This gas corridor could transform West Africa’s energy mix while strengthening its energy transport infrastructure.
Despite these opportunities, structural obstacles remain. Poor governance in public electricity companies hampers cross-border trade and deters investors. To address these shortcomings, ECOWAS is considering the creation of a regional trust fund to guarantee transactions and secure investments.
This mechanism will be complemented by reforms, including harmonizing regulatory frameworks, strengthening national regulatory agencies, and establishing dispute resolution mechanisms.
