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ECOWAS Energy Ministers to adopt recommendations

Accra (Greater Accra) 6 Nov. '99

Ghana hopes to facilitate the development of a West Africa Energy Market in which there will be trade in natural gas proceeds alongside trade in electricity.

Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister responsible for Mines and Energy, told a meeting of West African Energy Ministers in Accra that there is the need to accelerate the development of projects to expand power generation and inter-connect the electricity grids of member states.

Mr Spio-Garbrah said this must be done in a manner that would lead eventually to a cost efficient West African Power Pool (WAPP).

The Minister said he hoped that the legal, regulatory, commercial, technological, and financing hurdles would be solved "to make further progress towards the realisation of the (WAPP)".

Mr Spio-Garbrah said it is now time for Africa to take up the challenges of the founding fathers of the OAU to meet their vision and agree to concrete programmes and projects for co-operation and unity.

"Let us seize this opportunity to bring energy and light to our sub-region. Let us enhance our collaboration to ensure the rapid economic development of West Africa.

Mr Spio-Garbrah said the development of a vibrant and efficient energy base has a special place within Ghana's medium term national development plan (Vision 2020).

This, he indicated, is reflected in the diversification from hydro power generation to complementary sources of thermal power and the introduction of a number of independent power producers who are to build, operate and transfer power to end users.

"Since Ghana is not well endowed with oil and gas resources, we are keen to promote regional energy trade in West Africa to secure access to clean natural gas from our neighbours, particularly Nigeria.

"That is why Ghana fully supports both the development of the West African Gas Pipeline Project and the WAPP".

The ECOWAS ministers' meeting, following on the heels of an experts meeting last week, is considering the adoption of recommendations of the experts for the development of energy production facilities in the region.

The 16-member countries will also review the framework for the implementation of the West African Power-Pool (WAPP) Project.

The meeting is the final phase of processes aimed at co-operation for the consolidation and inter-connection of national power grids in the sub-region.

It is being attended by local and international private sector operators in the industry.

The ministers would issue a communiqué, at the end of their meeting to commit themselves to the understanding reached among their energy experts aimed at realising the power pooling idea.

The US Assistant Secretary of Energy, Mr Calvin Humphrey outlined the benefits of power pooling between some states in North America since 1925, and said it has brought about immense benefits to that country and questioned why a similar facility in Africa should be delayed.

Mr Humphrey said power pooling must engage the minds of leaders in the sub-region from now and into the future in order to derive maximum advantages from the system.

He called for quick and urgent attention to the system since it involves a long period and significant investment to complete.

He assured the ministers of the US government's support to see the WAGP, a sub-project, which falls within the WAPP, and the WAPP itself to its logical conclusion in order to make Africa reliable in energy supply.

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