HomeAfricaECOWAS promises 'significant improvements' in power supply for citizens

ECOWAS promises ‘significant improvements’ in power supply for citizens

Citizens of West African countries that benefitting from a US$108-million regional emergency energy programme will experience “significant improvements” in their energy generation and supply from next year, ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo has assured.

According to the ECOWAS Commission, President Ouedraogo gave the assurance while speaking in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Monday during the signing ceremony for the grants to three ECOWAS beneficiary countries – Gambia, Mali and Sierra Leone.

Mali will get U$54.32 million, followed by The Gambia with US$31.8 million and Sierra Leone US$21.8 million. The grants will be disbursed in two tranches over 12 months.

The ECOWAS Commission boss said persisting energy deficit which became more acute in the last ten years, had impacted negatively on the region’s competitiveness, productivity and economic growth.

The three countries are the latest beneficiaries of the regional programme based on requests by the States, and it is aimed
at enabling them to rehabilitate some of their generation infrastructure and network, build capacity, install pre-payment metres and develop an improved mechanism for coordination and monitoring of their energy utilities.

Guinea Bissau and Guinea were the first beneficiaries under the programme which was launched in 2010.

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