West Africa’s push toward a stronger, unified electricity system is gaining momentum—with new investment in expertise and the next generation of energy professionals.
At the CIGRE West Africa National Committee’s General Assembly in Conakry, Chairman Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz outlined a year of progress, including regional training sessions and technical meetings hosted in Dakar.
A standout achievement: a joint project with VRA Academy and NAPTIN that secured €88,700 to train young women in solar energy and mini-grid technologies.
The initiative comes at a pivotal time. As the region prepares for the next phase of its Regional Electricity Market, countries are working toward linking their national power systems into a more coordinated grid. But weak interconnections and limited reserve capacity remain challenges.
Abdulaziz said developing skills is more than a technical necessity—it is an investment in system security, better-performing utilities and the future of regional electricity.
He also urged members to follow through on plans for pooled funding and a minimum annual operating budget of €213,940 to keep the Committee’s work sustainable.
Founded by West African electricity companies in 2019 and recognised by CIGRE International in 2020, the Committee connects regional professionals to global expertise and technical knowledge.
Its growing role reflects a simple truth: building a more reliable regional power system depends not only on infrastructure, but also on people who can make it work.