The ECOWAS Energy and Mines Directorate held a meeting on 16 March 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, with Energy China International (CEEC) to take forward discussions on the development of regional energy infrastructure in West Africa.

Representatives from West African Power Pool (WAPP) also attended the meeting, which reviewed project portfolios, technical capabilities and financing channels aimed at accelerating power sector growth and broader infrastructure delivery in the region. Participants explored partnership possibilities and financing opportunities with regard to ECOWAS�s priority projects related to power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructures.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr William Baidoe, Acting Director of Energy and Mines at ECOWAS, and his colleagues presented an overview of the mission of the Directorate, as well as various ongoing projects. These include distribution infrastructure projects to expand energy access in the region, and projects for the development of energy storage systems.

Mr. Kodjo Afidegnon, Director of Planning, Investment Programming and Environmental Safeguards at WAPP, presented the current status of some priority projects of the ECOWAS Master Plan for the Development of Power Generation and Transmission Infrastructures (2019�2033). These projects include the CLSG project (interconnection between C�te d�Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea), the North Core Project (interconnection between Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Benin), the OMVG project (interconnection between Guinea, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau), and the Medium Backbone project (interconnection between Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and C�te d�Ivoire). He highlighted the financing opportunities arising from these projects that could be of interest to CEEC.

On behalf of CEEC, General Manager Huang Aijun presented the company�s expertise in conventional and renewable energy, grid expansion, planning and electricity transmission infrastructure. He reaffirmed CEEC�s interest in partnering with and supporting ECOWAS�s priority projects, drawing on various funding sources.

The parties agreed to further engage on the priority projects discussed during the meeting, to explore these projects in greater detail and to better understand their current status, development plans, and potential areas for collaboration.

This meeting highlights ECOWAS�s ongoing dedication to fostering regional partnerships and attracting investments to improve energy access, reliability, and sustainable infrastructure development in West Africa.