• $225m World Bank-funded initiative connects 490 localities in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali
•Mali seeks extension as ECOWAS holds ultimate steering committee assembly in Abuja
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mentioned its $225 million Regional Electricity Access Project has prolonged electrical energy entry to practically 500,000 individuals throughout 490 localities in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali.
The achievement was disclosed on the tenth and ultimate Steering Committee assembly of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP), which opened in Abuja on Tuesday to assessment implementation progress and decide measures for guaranteeing the sustainability of the venture.
The World Bank-financed initiative is designed to broaden electrical energy entry in underserved communities throughout the three international locations, as a part of efforts to deepen regional vitality integration and enhance residing situations in West Africa.
Speaking on the assembly, the Director of Energy and Mines on the ECOWAS Commission and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Arkadius Koumoin, acknowledged the numerous progress recorded regardless of challenges that affected implementation, together with the COVID-19 pandemic and institutional disruptions.
He, nonetheless, careworn the necessity for concrete selections and actions to guarantee accountable closure of the venture, noting that its success ought to in the end be measured by the variety of households successfully linked to electrical energy.
Koumoin’s place highlights the significance of translating infrastructure investments into precise electrical energy entry for communities, reasonably than measuring efficiency solely by accomplished venture actions.
The Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), The Gambia, Gallo Saidy; the consultant of Guinea-Bissau’s Ministry accountable for Energy, Pedro Jeus de Oliviera; and Mali’s National Director of Energy, Oussouby Mary dit Ousmane Diarra, reaffirmed their dedication to finishing excellent venture actions.
However, Mali referred to as for an extension to allow it to full its excellent work, underscoring the necessity to tackle implementation gaps earlier than the venture’s ultimate closure.
The assembly is anticipated to present a chance for taking part international locations and the ECOWAS Commission to agree on the excellent actions required to consolidate the features of the initiative and make sure that beneficiaries proceed to take pleasure in dependable electrical energy entry.
