World Bank program strengthens West African electricity supply and regional integration

A recent report indicates that over 4,000 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines have been built, connecting the grids of 15 West African countries under the West African Power Pool. This has enabled the trading of approximately eight percent of regional electricity, moving closer to the European Commission's 10 to 12 percent benchmark, and has reduced costs while improving supply reliability. Between 2019 and 2025, more than three million people in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia gained electricity access due to program-supported transmission and distribution upgrades.

The program has also strengthened the financial positions of utilities, with Guinea-Bissau's utility moving from a monthly deficit to a positive balance and The Gambia's NAWEC achieving profitability with 42 percent cost savings. Progress is also being made towards a regional electricity market, with the WAPP and ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority synchronizing grids and expanding trade, including the introduction of a new day-ahead market. The World Bank noted that the program has created over 52,000 direct and indirect jobs and is supported by partners like the African Development Bank and European I