Member states of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) have been urged to strengthen regional electricity cooperation as the organisation prepares to launch the second phase of its regional electricity market in early 2027.
The call was made at the 21st session of the WAPP General Assembly held in Conakry, Guinea, on November 6, 2026, where energy ministers, electricity utility executives and international partners discussed efforts to deepen power integration across West Africa.
Guinea’s Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah, who represented President Mamadi Doumbouya, who made the call urged member states to prioritise regional electricity cooperation over national isolation, stressing the need to build an integrated energy market based on shared standards and collective performance.
Also Chairman of the WAPP Executive Board, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, disclosed that the second phase of the regional electricity market would introduce a day-ahead trading system in which electricity prices between participating countries would be determined by supply and demand under a transparent and non-discriminatory framework.
He described the development as a major milestone, noting that two decades of investments in transmission infrastructure, common regulations and regional institutions must now translate into a functional electricity market.
Abdulaziz said the transition would require stronger market discipline, reliable real-time data exchange, accurate metering and credible settlement arrangements to ensure transparency and confidence among participating countries.
He also disclosed that ongoing institutional reforms would establish an independent system and market operator, separating electricity system operations from market management to guarantee fairness and prevent undue external influence.
The WAPP chairman further identified financial security as critical to the success of the regional market, highlighting the proposed Liquidity Enhancement Revolving Fund as a mechanism to strengthen confidence in electricity transactions, urging member states to meet their statutory financial obligations, describing regular contributions as essential to the organisation’s independence and effectiveness.
Meanwhile, WAPP Secretary-General, Abdoulaye Dia, highlighted progress towards synchronising the electricity networks of all 15 West African countries.
He recalled that the regional grid achieved four hours and five minutes of synchronisation on November 8, 2025, adding that a further test scheduled for November 2026 would target 48 hours of uninterrupted synchronisation as part of preparations for permanent integration.
Dia said regional electricity cooperation had become increasingly important as member states faced growing demands for reliable power supply, improved service quality and affordable electricity.
He also pointed to progress on the regional electricity tariff framework following decisions adopted in 2026 by the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority.
Guinea’s Energy Minister, Laye Sékou Camara, said the assembly must translate regional commitments into measurable results, stressing the importance of effective governance, financial discipline and stronger institutional capacity.
He maintained that expanding national electricity access and increasing regional power exchanges were complementary objectives, noting that installed generation capacity alone was insufficient without adequate transmission infrastructure to deliver electricity to consumers.
Guinea also reaffirmed its commitment to regional energy integration, citing its existing hydropower facilities, including the Kaleta and Souapiti dams, and planned projects such as Koukoutamba, Sambangalou and Amaria as part of its ambition to become a major electricity supplier in the sub-region.
At the end of the assembly, 17 transmission system operators signed an Inter-grid Operators Agreement to strengthen coordinated operations across the regional electricity network.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of regional power integration in improving electricity availability, strengthening energy security and supporting economic development across West Africa.
