The acting chairperson for the ECOWAS Regional Electricity and Regulatory Authority (ERERA) Ifeyinwa Ikeonu has said the West African cross-border electricity market is expected to kick start trading among the member states by the end of 2016.
According to the ERERA boss, once the electricity market is launched at the end of 2016, it would address the twin problem of energy access and energy security in the region.
Speaking at the 6th meeting of ERERA’s Consultative Committee of regulators and operators in Accra, Mrs Ikeonu said the regulators and operators would review the draft dispute resolution procedures and enforcement rules prepared by ERERA for the discharge of its quasi-judicial functions with regards to the regional electricity market.
“In 2013, there was a directive of the ECOWAS council of ministers which mandated all member states to meet certain obligations that would form the framework on which we can build on the regional market. Some of the issues that were tackled in the directive included the issue of open access, having in place tariff pricing methodology, putting in place the regional market rules, the WAPP operational manual and ensuring that all member states have in place independent regulators that would assist in creating the enabling framework for the regional market. The ground rules have been put in place to ensure that come the end 2016, phase one of the electricity market would be launched,” she told the Daily Guide.
She said some of the documents to be reviewed at the 2-day meeting included the dispute resolution mechanism and the enforcement proceedings for ERERA and the revised strategic plan for 2016 to 2020 as well as consider proposals on the rebranding of the institution’s annual Electricity Regulatory Forum to make it more effective.
Earlier this year, Mrs Ikeonu presented three documents that had been approved by ERERA to fast-track the establishment of the electricity market to the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP). The documents covered the regional market rules, the tariff pricing methodology, as well as the WAPP operational manual.
Ignacio Burrull, European Union (EU) Head of Cooperation in Ghana disclosed that the cross-border electricity market of which the EU had been a strong supporter, would become valid in the electricity sector and in West Africa.
Mr. Burrull added that the EU had so far invested about EUR 1.1 billion into the regional integration and cross-border electricity market to build interconnections, generation projects and constitute the demonstration of a well-functioning system between ERERA and other developing partners.
“This support will even increase in future; the ambitious goals of ECOWAS to increase the share of renewable energy to 31 percent of its energy mix and to achieve 100 percent access to sustainable energy by 2030 are fully endorsed by the EU at regional and national levels.
The event brought together representatives from Energy Commission, Volta River Authority (VRA) and GRIDCo as well as representatives from other energy related institutions from the ECOWAS countries.
By: Nii Ogbamey Tetteh
