19 OCTOBER 2022

Understanding the intricate power pool in West Africa and how to draw entrepreneurial opportunities

To solve the region’s electricity problems, the West African Power Pool has been trying to connect a single power market. The idea is that by creating a sizable, united power market, West Africa will be able to draw more investment, enabling the development of natural gas and hydropower plants. As these developments take place, new value chains will emerge and entrepreneurs can identify segments to participate as value-adding service providers for products, services, solutions and systems.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) members have experienced significant economic growth of 5% to 8% annually since 2010, but the region’s insufficient and unstable energy supply has remained a significant barrier to growth. There are more than 340 million people living in the region, yet only roughly 42% of them have access to power. Greater cross-border utilisation of renewable energy sources and other energy resources could boost and stabilise the electricity supply in the single electricity market represented by the 15 ECOWAS member states.

For our October webinar we invited the following stakeholders to share insights into this exciting West African electricity market:

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs):

OEMs design and manufacture products, services, solutions and systems sought after by utilities and different large power users in the energy and power sector. We invite them to share trends in electricity system digitisation, decarbonisation and decentralisation. We invite them to showcase how they enable access to technology for SMMEs, especially women-owned companies. Rockwell Automation and General Electric shared presentations on channel partnerships and leading technology for the electricity sector in the region.

Electricity Utilities

Electricity utilities SENELEC and CI Energies shared insights into their electricity strategies and their electricity infrastructure and regulatory reform. Utilities play a profound role in creating a market for products, services, solutions and systems for the entire electricity value chain.

Industry Associations

Industry associations play a critical role in building credible market networks and advocating for different policy reforms in favour of socio-economic development. We invite industry associations and non-profit entities to share information on programmes they are implementing to advance gender mainstreaming. Women for Sustainable Energy and Climate Action shared their programmes, which cover West and Central Africa.

Programme

Content Framework

Webinar 10

Speakers

Introduction

Introduction to AWEaP:

Purpose of the webinar

Introduction to the topics

AWEaP

MS. ELEKANYANI NDLOVU
African Women in Energy and Power Advisory
Board Member

Energy and
Power Sector

Central Africa

Opportunities for
Women Entrepreneurs

Women for Sustainable Energy and Climate Action

MS. CAROLE TANKEU  Managing Partner chez S2 services SARL

Platinum
Sponsor:

OEM

Access to Technology

West Africa

General
Electric

MS. THELMA OSUHOR
Services Operations Director
GE Gas Power SSA

Gold Sponsor:
OEM

Access to Technology

West Africa

Rockwell
Automation

MR. SAGREN GOVENDER
Sales Manager
Rockwell Automation

Utility 1

Access to market:

Utility strategy and focus

Enabling Smart Cities & opportunities for SMMEs

Integration of renewable
energy Procurement process

Gender mainstreaming

Senegal

MS. NDEYE AMI DRAME
Head of Transmission System
Planning Division
SENELEC

Utility 2

Cotê d’Ivoire

MRS. MARIE-EMMANUELLE AFFAINIE
Head of Planning & Programming
Service Distribution
CI-Energies

MS. MARIE-MADELEINE
EMMANUELLA LOBA
Energy Market Engineer
CI-Energies

Policy on
Gender
Mainstreaming

Gender
mainstreaming

West Africa

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

MS. ADEOLA ADEBIYI
The ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)

Opinion Piece on West Africa Electricity Market

Industry
Expert

Senegal

MR. AZIZ FALL
Industry Expert

Rural
Electrification

Industry
Expert

Senegal

MRS. ROKHAYA DIAO GUEYE
Technical Advisor in Strategy
Rural Electrification Agency

Entrepreneurs
Testimony

Access to market, finance, networks and technology:

Entrepreneurial Testimony;

Moving beyond boundaries in the Energy Sector:
Lessons and Tips

Entrepreneur 1
Senegal

MRS. FATOU DIOP
Renewable Energy Technician

Entrepreneur 2
Côte d’Ivoire

MS. BASSARAN DIABY
Entreprise Ivoirienne d’Intégration
Energétique, Founder

Close

Closing Remarks:

SDG 7
SDG 5
SDG 8

AWEaP

MS. ELEKANYANI NDLOVU
African Women in Energy and Power Advisory
Board Member

Watch our webinar and download presentations shared by speakers:

We encourage you to do the following:

  1. Visit our YouTube channel
  2. Watch previous webinars
  3. Take notes from the presentations given
  4. Note the tips shared on how you can gain entry into the energy and power sector as an entrepreneur
  5. Note programmes in place to address some of the barriers:
    1. Access to market
    2. Access to skills development
    3. Access to finance
    4. Access to technology
  6. Download presentations and listen to the recorded webinar again
  7. Follow through by: visiting websites and taking the initiative to build the network necessary to enable your participation.

Inspiration

"Africa's renewable energy potential is estimated at over 10 terawatts of solar power 350 gigawatts of hydro, 10 gigawatts of wind & more than 20 gigawatts of geothermal. Our challenge as a continent is to leverage available resources to produce clean & safe power."

Rebecca Miano

"I dream of the realisation of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses."

Nelson Mandela

"We need to reframe the role of youth in the energy transition agenda. Youth don’t just play a role in Africa’s sustainable energy transition, they are real agents of change!."

Dr. Mohamed Alhaj