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The Bible says “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” and in this case energy poverty as is the case of the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP),  a specialized agency of ECOWAS established in 1999 and officially set up in 2006 to devise and strategically drive infrastructure development for the production and transportation of electrical energy while coordinating the exchange of electrical energy among member states.

Touted as one of the regions with highest energy poverty rates, only 52 percent of West Africa's population currently has access to electricity. For those who have access to it, the reliability of supply remains a major challenge, characterized by prolonged outages, unexpected power outages, the destruction of household appliances and electrical equipment.

The concept of the Regional Electricity Market was therefore mandated by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to enhance cooperation in electric energy within the West African sub-region through a decision of the heads of state and government at the 29th ECOWAS Summit to create the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP). WAPP has currently covered 14 of the 15 countries in the regional economic community. Not only is the sub-region striving to attain the global objective of enabling countries improve access to electricity by areas of low generation from areas with high supply through the establishment of the WAPP, but also to promote economies of scale and efficiency of investments in energy projects, optimize electricity generation by using cheapest source of production to meet demand and also establish a mutual assistance mechanism between members in case of emergency.

Status of WAPP

Currently, 13 out of 14 countries (All members except the island state of Cabo Verde) are electrically connected, with electricity exchanges between States based on bilateral contracts. However, just like any other electricity markets, there are some existential weak links such as low volumes due to political contracts, operational issues and payment issues. Despite these challenges, WAPP is fully operational with a new control center to enhance a reliable and secure operation of the Interconnected Power Systems.

WAPP’s Secret to Success

The story of WAPP is one of resilience, good planning and fruitful partnerships which has yielded good results with the aim to alleviate energy poverty in the ECOWAS region. Though late to the party as compared to other electricity markets in the region, WAPP is quite advanced in terms of their soft infrastructure, which is a major condition for the successful operationalization of electricity markets. Through the power partnerships with the European Commission, USAID, World Bank and the African Development Bank, the WAPP has been able to chalk many successes.

AfDB’s Support to WAPP

Apart from the hard infrastructure projects in the form of interconnectors connecting 13 countries, there has been the need to develop grid codes, and harmonizing the regulatory framework of countries to ensure a robust and efficient electricity market. The African Development Bank has been providing technical assistance to all regional electricity regulatory authorities on the continent, including ECOWAS’ Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) to efficiently unify and harmonize member states’ soft infrastructure towards a well-performing WAPP.

WAPP’s Strategic Evolution and Regional Impact

Building on the crucial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), WAPP has continued to push forward with its mission to tackle energy poverty across West Africa. A big part of this has been the evolution of the regional electricity market, which is unfolding in well-planned phases.

In the first phase, WAPP focused on existing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and bilateral contracts between neighboring countries. As things move forward, the goal is to create a fully integrated market where all member states can trade energy more freely and reliably. This includes rolling out a day-ahead market and setting up standardized transmission tariffs across the region.

Building the Backbone of Infrastructure and Capacity

But WAPP isn’t just about markets—it’s also about making sure the lights stay on. The organization has been hard at work, completing over 5,700 kilometers of transmission lines, with even more in the pipeline. This growing web of infrastructure is connecting countries, boosting reliability, and making sure that electricity flows smoothly from one nation to the next.

On top of that, WAPP has laid down the rules of the game with a Regional Grid Code, market rules, and a clear approach to transmission tariffs. These steps are making it easier for member states to trade electricity, ensuring everyone gets a piece of the pie.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for WAPP?

So, what’s next? WAPP has big plans. They’re looking to update the ECOWAS Masterplan, beef up the regional transmission network, and bring more renewable energy into the mix, especially solar. These moves aren’t just about meeting today’s demands—they’re about setting up the region for a sustainable, energy-secure future.

WAPP’s journey has been one of strategic partnerships, smart planning, and a whole lot of resilience. As they continue to evolve, the future looks bright for West Africa’s power sector.