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Sierra Leone, Chad, Liberia and Togo to

increase grid access

WEST AFRICA WEST African states of Sierra Leone, Chad, across the four countries.
Liberia and Togo have officially kicked off activ- It also includes a regional approach, provid-
ities in Freetown to increase access to renewa- ing $20mn to help the West Africa Power Pool
ble energy to millions of their citizens under (WAPP) to enhance the potential for power
$311mn World Bank-supported programme. trade in West Africa and to facilitate knowledge
Dubbed the Regional Emergency Solar sharing among ECOWAS member countries.
Power Intervention Project (RESPITE), the The project will also pave the way for the
regional project was approved in December ambitious expansion of clean energy generation
2022, and signed by the beneficiary states on in the future in West Africa. West Africa has
January 31, with the aim to rapidly increase Commenting on the project, Sierra Leone’s one of the lowest
grid-connected renewable energy capacity and President Julius Maada Bio said they are paying
strengthen regional integration. far more for energy than they were 18 months electrification
As part of the launch, a Regional Energy ago, adding that a steep surge in energy prices
Sector Roundtable was held prior to the sign- continues to have an adverse impact on other rates in the
ing ceremony to specifically discuss how the sectors of their economies.
deployment of renewable energy can help coun- “This regional intervention is much needed world, with
tries lower costs, reduce emissions, and ensure in the short term. Today, our countries are taking 220mn people
universal energy access to support economic a bold step in the right direction. RESPITE is the
transformation in West Africa. beginning of a revolution in energy supply and still living without
West Africa has one of the lowest electrifica- access,” he added.
tion rates in the world, with 220mn people still On his part, Bernard Hessou, WAPP Direc- access to power
living without access to power, coupled with tor of Planning, Investment and Environmen-
some of the highest costs in Sub-Saharan Africa. tal Safeguards, RESPITE fully supports WAPP
Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine war, which in achieving its goals of competitive and cli-
led to a surge in oil prices, has in turn led to an mate-friendly electricity supplies for ECOWAS
increase in utility tariffs. Furthermore, countries citizens.
in the region rely on oil-based power plants to “RESPITE complements other existing
meet growing demand. In addition to the nega- regional projects by adding the first competi-
tive impact on the climate, this leads to increas- tively and publicly procured clean and afforda-
ingly higher tariffs for consumers. ble renewable energy to the region’s power
RESPITE will help reduce greenhouse gas mix, while also enhancing regional integra-
(GHG) emissions by financing the installation tion, expanding the potential for power trade,
and operation of approximately 106 megawatts and improving the enabling environment for
of solar photovoltaic power with batteries and integration of renewable energy in the future,”
storage systems, 41 MW expansion of hydroelec- Boutheina Guermazi, World Bank Director for
tric power capacity, and by supporting electric- Regional Integration for Sub-Saharan Africa, the
ity distribution and transmission interventions Middle East and Northern Africa said™

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