West Africa has launched the Regional Energy Governance and Information System (REGIS-WA) with a workshop aimed at improving energy governance and facilitating clean energy integration across the region.
The initiative, managed by the Directorate of Energy and Mines, brings together senior officials from the energy ministries of ECOWAS member states and regional bodies such as the West African Power Pool and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. The purpose is to establish a strategic roadmap for the project.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization, Amin Amidu Sulemani, addressed the workshop virtually, stressing how REGIS-WA aligns with both regional and global development goals and the revised ECOWAS treaty. He highlighted the project’s timely contribution to updating regional energy policies and consolidating the ECOWAS Energy Information System, vital for energy statistics and informed decision-making. “ECOWAS’s ambitions for the energy sector cannot be achieved without strong, transparent, and data-driven energy governance,” he noted.
Céline Hoste, leader of the EU Delegation’s team for regional cooperation, reiterated the European Union’s commitment to enhancing governance and reliable data to support an integrated and climate-friendly regional electricity market. The initiative aims to translate regional policies into actionable steps at the national level and bolster the ECOWAS Energy Information System.
Dr. Karin Jansen, from the German Embassy in Nigeria, affirmed Germany’s ongoing support for sustainable energy development in West Africa. She acknowledged ECOWAS’s role and stated that REGIS-WA would enhance the regional energy information system and strengthen cooperation with the African Union.
The workshop aims to foster a shared understanding among partners and validate the project’s operational roadmap and implementation goals. It will also facilitate stakeholder engagement and coordination.
Funded by the EU with a budget of €3 million, REGIS-WA is implemented by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as part of its ProCEM II programme. The project will focus on monitoring regional energy policies and enhancing the energy statistical capacities of member states.
