Stakeholders Promise Commitment to Improve Energy in West Africa

By Abraham Olatunbosun

Stakeholders in the energy sector have agreed to work together to boost the electricity generation in West Africa.

Rising from a two-day event, Economic Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) 2022 in Abuja on Tuesday, the stakeholders committed to making energy accessible to majority of people in the sub-region.

Speaking to journalists on the success of the programme sponsored by ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in collaboration with the Nigeria’s Ministry of Power, the Executive Director of ECREE, Francis Sempore, said the Forum was highly successful and the deliberations and decisions made would bring about energy revolution in West Africa.

He said: “The ESEF went very well, we even exceeded our expectations in terms of attendance, we will like to thank the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for their hospitality, we are really happy to be here and everything went beyond our expectations.”

He added that: “During this event we were able to get some commitments from partners and we also made some commitments to partners to increase the energy access, we promised to increase our efforts so that we can achieve our objective in terms of energy access, working with ECOWAS member state, working with technical partners so that we can make access to energy a reality for the citizens of ECOWAS.

“Now that the 2022 ESEF has come to a close with huge successes recorded in so many areas, we move to Cabo Verde for the next meeting hoping to achieve more.”

The Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, said the meeting has brought greater friendship between citizens of ECOWAS.

He said: “ECOWAS citizens have been able to come together under ESEF to show friendship that we so much cherish. And I can see it on your faces that you are happy”.

The Minister for Energy, Cabo Verde, Alexandre Montteriro, on behalf of the Cape Verdean government promised ECOWAS a well organised ESEF as the next host.

ESEF also gave awards to individuals and companies that have contributed to the increase access to energy in West Africa.

Some of the key points that were discussed at the ESEF 2022 include: Fostering energy transition investment in ECOWAS, Catalising energy transition for green industrial development, improved livelihold, and sustainable energy policies and launch of EREF 2030, others are: accelerating access to clean cooking in west Africa and ECOWAS initiative on youth leadership development in Africa.

ECOWAS President, Dr. Omar Touray, also gave the assurance of an energy market that would be in place by June 2023, when he said, “By next year we will have electricity market where contractors can buy electricity.”