- WAPP extends the completion date for the 330kV power project from 2024 to 2025.
- The World Bank, AfDB, EU and Nigeria are funding the project worth over $600 million.
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) has proposed a $156 million annual budget to execute its 330kV North Core power project. The project aims to create a sustainable regional power supply system to promote economic growth in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region. The secretary general of WAPP, Siengui Apollinaire, disclosed this during the 7th meeting of the Joint Supervision Committee held in Abuja on Friday. The project, which covers the construction of 913 km of lines and five substations, is part of the regional interconnection project launched in May 2019.
According to Apollinaire, the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union and Nigeria, among others, are funding the project worth over $600 million. The secretary-general stated that WAPP extended the project’s completion date from 2024 to 2025 due to insecurity experienced in some countries of the region. He pointed out countries such as Burkina Faso, stressing that the insecurity has been a major challenge in completing the project.
“The commitment of the concerned states in the field of security is, therefore, essential for the project’s success. It is crucial to emphasise that a decisive step in realising this project lies in mobilising all stakeholders, particularly focusing on security challenges in the project area. For this year, the budget submitted for your consideration, equivalent to $156 million, will, barring unforeseen circumstances, complete the work in Nigeria and Benin,” he added.
The 330kV power project involves the construction of approximately 880km of 330kV and 33km of 225kV high voltage transmission lines between five countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo. Furthermore, WAPP stated that this initiative will facilitate energy exchanges in the sub-region. It will also provide technical assistance to foster efficient commercial exchange agreements among its participants and expand access to electricity for populations living along the transmission line.