ECOWAS approves key guidelines for regional power market

By Innocent Obasi

The Economic Community of West African States Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) has approved critical guidelines for the development of the regional power market.

ERERA made this disclosure in a statement released by Kokou Tossou, the chairman ERERA, while addressing Qun Yang, the chairman of Sunon Asogli Power Ltd during a courtesy visit to the power plant in Kpone,Ghana.

“Approved documents include the regional electricity market procedures for the West African power pool, the WAPP operation manual, the tariff methodology for regional transmission cost and tariff, and the WAPP regional market rules,

“Others include the WAPP transmission service access and use procedures, which describes the conditions and procedures for access, as well as use and payment of transmission services in the electricity market.”  Tossou said.

He stated the authority was committed to protecting the interests of investors and participants in the region’s electricity market, adding that it would enhance profitable investments in the industry.

The authority remarked that electricity production was essential  to the viability of the market.

Additionally, Tossou said ERERA had secured the approval of strategic documents such as the directive on the organisation of the regional electricity market.

He stated that the directive requires member states to amend their laws to allow for open access to the transmission network while allowing third-party access to eligible customers.

The authority commended  Asogli Power Ltd for its investments in West Africa and its high efficiency in power generation.