The Board must ensure that the decisions were implemented within a sound legal, institutional and financial framework that safeguards the interests of WAPP and its members
By Moses Okorie
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) has unanimously re-elected Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz as Chairman of its Executive Board for another three-year term.
Abdulaziz was re-elected at the 68th Meeting of the WAPP Executive Board held in Lomé, Togo, on October 8 and 9, 2026.
Speaking at the meeting, Abdulaziz thanked members of the Board for their confidence in his leadership and pledged to continue working with them to advance the objectives of the regional electricity organisation.
He urged member utilities to strengthen collective responsibility in developing a viable regional electricity market, stressing that Board meetings must produce decisions that improve WAPP’s capacity to meet the energy needs of West Africa.
The chairman recalled that the 67th Board Meeting had approved principles for the progressive establishment of the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), while ensuring operational continuity through the transitional role of the WAPP Information and Coordination Centre (ICC).
He said the Board must ensure that the decisions were implemented within a sound legal, institutional and financial framework that safeguards the interests of WAPP and its members.
Abdulaziz also emphasised the importance of statutory contributions to the organisation’s financial independence and operational capacity.
“Statutory contributions are not a formality; they are the basis of WAPP’s autonomy and capacity to act,” he said, urging member utilities to meet their financial obligations.
He added that the WAPP Secretariat would continue to pursue cost-reduction measures without compromising its essential functions.
On technical priorities, Abdulaziz identified network synchronisation and the launch of the regional electricity market as key areas requiring sustained attention.
He described network synchronisation as a significant technical achievement that must be supported by coordinated system operations, appropriate security arrangements and market readiness among participants and stakeholders.
According to him, the regional electricity market can only achieve its objectives through clearly defined rules, reliable data, credible financial mechanisms and independent, effective governance.
Earlier, the WAPP Secretary General and Secretary of the Executive Board, Mr. Abdoulaye Dia, said the organisation had continued implementing guidelines on institutional strengthening and the progressive operationalisation of the ISMO since the previous meeting.
Dia explained that the process involved functional and accounting unbundling, alongside an orderly transition that would enable the ICC to maintain operational continuity during Phase Two of the Regional Electricity Market.
He said the progress recorded and the organisation’s growing visibility had attracted new partnerships, reaffirming the Secretariat’s commitment to building an integrated, reliable and competitive regional electricity system ahead of the planned launch of the market’s second phase early next year.
On the financial position of the organisation, Dia called on member utilities to settle outstanding contributions, stressing that regular funding, sound financial management and collective discipline were essential to WAPP’s credibility and effective service delivery.
The Board also considered a restructuring study on the operationalisation of the ISMO, which is intended to align the organisation with best practices and mitigate political interference as the regional electricity market evolves.
Among other decisions, the Board adopted the Charter of the Forum for Women in Energy in West Africa and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Millennium Challenge Account Côte d’Ivoire.
The meeting also welcomed new representatives of member utilities to the Board. They included Mr. Lawrent Tossou, Managing Director of Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE), representing Benin; Mr. Amidou Traore, Director General of CI-ENERGIES; and Mr. Julien Sagna, representing Société de Gestion de l’Énergie de Manantali (SOGEM).
In addition, the Board reviewed membership applications from four utilities seeking to join the regional power pool.
The applicants are Konexa of Nigeria; Société de Gestion de l’Énergie de Sambangalou et du Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (SOGESART) of Senegal; Société de Gestion de l’Énergie des Ouvrages du Haut Bassin du Fleuve Sénégal (SOGEOH); and HOLDEN–Niger SARL, an independent power producer from Niger.
The four applications are expected to be submitted for ratification at the WAPP General Assembly scheduled to hold before the end of the year.