Power
North Core 330kV power project reaches 75% completion
The West African Power Pool initiative has achieved 75 percent completion after navigating several regional security and logistical hurdles.
Key points
- The 330kV interconnection initiative connects Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo.
- Stakeholders met in Abuja for the eighth joint supervision mission of financing partners.
- Implementation challenges included insecurity, border closures, flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic.
What happened
The infrastructure initiative known as the North Core 330kV Interconnection Project has attained an overall completion rate of 75 percent, according to announcements made at a recent meeting in Abuja. Nigerian Tribune reported that the eighth joint supervision mission brought together financing partners to evaluate progress and address remaining hurdles.
Sule Abdulaziz, who serves as the chairman of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) executive board and manages the Transmission Company of Nigeria, urged stakeholders to maintain cooperation and ensure timely decisions. Aminu Tahir represented Abdulaziz at the gathering.
Launched initially in 2019, the transmission network aims to link Nigeria, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Togo. Abdoulaye Dia, the secretary general of the pool, noted through a representative that the undertaking has faced numerous obstacles. Security threats along the construction route, severe flooding, pandemic disruptions, border closures and cost escalations have previously slowed down deployment.
What comes next
Participating entities are focusing on finishing the remaining construction tasks. Project leaders intend to transform these capital investments into a dependable electricity grid capable of facilitating international power commerce across the participating nations.
Officials reviewed the current status of implementation during the Abuja sessions. They concentrated on formulating strategies to expedite the delivery of unfinished segments and strengthen regional market integration.
Why it matters
Cross-border power integration remains vital for stabilizing national grids in West Africa, where access to electricity varies significantly among populations. For instance, World Bank figures from 2024 indicate that access to electricity stands at 21.3 percent in Niger and 34 percent in Burkina Faso, compared to higher regional connectivity goals.
Reliable interconnections allow nations to share generation capacity, mitigating domestic supply deficits and supporting industrial growth. For energy investors and regional policymakers, completing the North Core corridor marks a critical step toward a unified West African electricity market that can optimize power generation resources and improve energy security across participating territories.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Grids decide whether generation becomes power that homes and businesses can rely on. Generation mix, transmission and distribution losses, and tariffs together shape reliability and the case for investment.
59.0% of people in Benin had electricity in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
