Power play in West Africa

The countries in the region would all receive an economic boost if a regional power market can be established

Roughly half of the population of West Africa have no access to electricity. Of those who do, the quality of service is often so low that predicting when grid power will be available is a national pastime. Solving this challenge will allow business to flourish and boost economic growth. It is also a priority of politicians—providing stable power is one of the most visible signs that a government is delivering. In part this is an operational challenge, but it is also one of investment. Most utilities in the region struggle with the consequences of insufficient power—such as the need to load-shed, rely on costly oil-based generation or both. Others face the challenge of surplus generation capa