From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Chairman of West African Power Pool (WAPP) Executive Board, Engineer Sule Abdulaziz has been re-elected chairman of the executive board for another three-year tenure even as he canvassed network synchronisation of West African countries.
He equally moved for the launch of the regional electricity market, describing synchronisation as a major technical achievement that must be supported by co-ordinated system operation, appropriate security arrangements, and market readiness of participants and stakeholders.
Speaking during the 68th Meeting of the WAPP Executive Board in Lome, Togo, Abdulaziz thanked members of the executive board for the confidence reposed in him and promised to continue working with the team to advance WAPP’s cause. He called on member utilities to strengthen collective responsibility in building a more viable regional electricity market, noting that executive board meetings are moments for decisions that must enhance WAPP’s capacity to respond to the energy needs of the region.
Abdulaziz recalled that the 67th meeting had approved principles for the progressive establishment of the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), while preserving operational continuity through the transitional role of the WAPP Information and Co-ordination Centre (ICC). He said the task before the board is to ensure those decisions are implemented within a sound legal, institutional, and financial framework that protects the interests of WAPP and its members.
The chairman stressed that statutory contributions remain the foundation of WAPP’s autonomy and ability to act.
“Statutory contributions are not a formality; they are the basis of WAPP’s autonomy and capacity to act,” he said.
He urged member utilities to honour their financial obligations while the secretariat continues to pursue cost-reduction efforts without weakening its critical functions.
He also highlighted two key technical issues, network synchronisation and the launch of the regional electricity market, describing synchronisation as a major technical achievement that must be supported by co-ordinated system operation, appropriate security arrangements, and market readiness of participants and stakeholders.
According to him, the regional market will only fulfil its promise if it rests on clearly understood rules, reliable data, credible financial mechanisms, and independent, effective governance.
Earlier, the Secretary-General of WAPP and Secretary of the Executive Board, Mr. Abdoulaye Dia, noted that since the 67th session, WAPP has continued to implement guidelines on institutional strengthening and the progressive operationalisation of the ISMO, with functional and accounting unbundling and an orderly transition allowing the ICC to ensure continuity during Phase 2 of the Regional Electricity Market.
Dia said the progress made and increased visibility of the institution have earned it new partnerships, and reaffirmed the secretariat’s commitment to building an integrated, reliable, and competitive regional electricity system ahead of the launch of the second phase of the market early next year.
While discussing the status of member contributions and the Pool’s 2025 financial statements, he stressed the need for member utilities to settle their outstanding contributions, noting that regular funding, rigorous management, and collective discipline are critical to WAPP’s credibility and service delivery.
In a statement, the board also discussed the restructuring study on the operationalisation of the ISMO, which is in line with global best practice and necessary to mitigate political interference as the WAPP market continues to evolve, and equally adopted among others —- the Charter of the Forum for Women in Energy in West Africa and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Millennium Challenge Account Côte d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, the 68th Board Meeting welcomed new representatives of member utilities of the board, including Mr. Lawrent Tossou, the new Managing Director of Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE), who now represents the Republic of Benin; Mr. Amidou Traore, the new Director General of CI-ENERGIES, joins the board, while Mr. Julien Sagna represents Société de Gestion de l’Énergie de Manantali (SOGEM).
The board also reviewed membership applications from four utilities in the sub-region that have expressed the desire to become members of the pool. They are Konexa from Nigeria; SOGESART – Société de Gestion de l’Énergie de Sambangalou et du Réseau de Transport d’Électricité from Senegal; SOGEOH – Société de Gestion de l’Énergie des Ouvrages du Haut Bassin du Fleuve Sénégal; and HOLDEN – Niger SARL, an Independent Power Producer (IPP) from the Republic of Niger. The four utilities will be ratified at the WAPP General Assembly to be held before the end of the year.
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