Integrated Power Market in West Africa: An Overview

Abstract

Lack of access to affordable electricity is a major detriment to the development of the resource-rich West African region. Accelerating development in this region will require massive expansion of access to electricity. The purpose of this paper is to more clearly identify the status of current efforts to improve the energy situation. Analysis of existing literature shows that an increasingly interesting aspect of solving power problems in the developing word is the design and implementation of competitive electricity markets. In West Africa, the most ambitious plan to reform the Power Sector is the West African Power Pool (WAPP). By conducting a review of current power sector integration projects and approaches to market liberalization in West Africa, this paper provides a robust basis for future research on paths for energy security in the region.