The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) Consultative Committee of Operators has emphasized the need for Africa to diversify its energy sources to ensure power security.
Dr. Ali Bukar Ahmad highlighted the continent’s heavy reliance on gas and urged exploring renewable energy sources such as hydro and coal to address sector challenges.
Speaking at the ninth ERERA forum in Accra, Dr. Ahmad suggested the idea of pooling all available resources together to distribute electricity to areas without power and export the excess to West Africa. The forum, themed “Electricity Trade Security in the ECOWAS Region: the Interplay between National Policies and Free Market Principles,” aimed to address the increasing demand for energy transition across the continent.
Dr. Ahmad predicted a higher demand for gas-powered thermal plants as the population grows and industrialization advances, emphasizing that diversifying energy sources would lead to cheaper electricity for both domestic and industrial sectors. He called for effective harmonization of energy policies throughout the continent to tackle sector challenges.
In addition, Dr. Ishmael Ackah, the Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, advocated for the injection of private capital into the energy sector to complement government efforts. He highlighted the importance of ERERA in setting guidelines to harmonize regulations within countries and stabilize electricity prices while addressing shortages.
Mr. Kocou Rodrigue Laurent Toss-up, Chairman of ERERA, stressed the forum’s role in strengthening key players to develop a regional framework for electricity trade that balances power supply security with free market competition principles. The discussions focused on promoting investment in cross-border electricity infrastructure to facilitate efficient trade and ensure supply security.
The forum aimed to encourage cooperation among ECOWAS Member States to harmonize national policies and regulations related to electricity trading, fostering a conducive environment for investment in the energy sector to meet the continent’s rising energy demands.
