ECOWAS shifts power market launch to 2022

The ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) has shifted the launch of the second phase of the Regional Electricity Market (REM) to 2022 from next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ERERA Chairman, Prof. Honoré Bogler, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop for communication specialists of National Electricity Regulatory Authorities (NRA) of member states held in Aburi, near Accra, Ghana, recently.

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At the opening ceremony, he said the launch was initially planned for 2021 but has been postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ECOWAS launched phase one of the Regional Electricity Market in June 2018 in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while the second phase is in view.

Bogler explained that the ERERA Regulatory Council had decided on many instances of preparatory awareness raising activities including the workshop for stakeholders ahead of the launch.

He also said the workshop was meant to sensitise participants and raise their awareness towards the launch of the second phase of the regional power market.

According to the workshop proceeding document, the workshop was attended by the ERERA Council Members, ERERA professional staff and communication specialists from the NRAs of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.