ECOWAS Experts Review Energy Storage, Electricity Market Regulations
The two-day meeting, which began on Tuesday in Accra, Ghana, brings together representatives of energy ministries from ECOWAS member states, the ECOWAS Commission and its institutions, as well as the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
The meeting is expected to produce recommendations for consideration by regional energy ministers, who are scheduled to meet on Thursday, October 22, in Accra.
Among the key instruments under review is a draft directive on the deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and other energy storage technologies, proposed by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).
The experts are also examining a draft regulation proposed by the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) to amend Regulation C/REG.14/12/23 on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy.
Five additional memoranda have also been submitted for the information of the ministers.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission and the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation, the Commission’s Director of Energy and Mines, Arkadius Koumoin, said the meeting’s recommendations would help shape the region’s energy future.
He said the outcomes would provide a foundation for advancing energy storage technologies and strengthening the financial sustainability of the regional electricity market.
According to him, these measures would ultimately contribute to improving access to reliable and affordable electricity across West Africa.
Declaring the meeting open, Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan Mensah, expressed confidence that the deliberations would produce practical recommendations to advance the region’s energy agenda.
He said the meeting presented an opportunity to move West Africa closer to achieving universal and sustainable energy access.
