The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) have held discussions on the approval processes for the ECOWAS Regional Transmission Tariff.

The tariff when approved, will entitle stakeholders within the power transmission sector, particularly those involved in regional trade in electricity, to be compensated appropriately.  

A delegation from ERERA, led by its Chairman Mr Laurent Tossou who visited the Chief Executive and Management of GRIDCo, touched on the approval processes.

GRIDCo Chief Executive Ing Ebenezer Kofi Essienyi noted: “The absence of an approved transmission tariff has created bottlenecks, which impede power trade flows in the region and together this needs to be addressed."

The Chairman for ERERA Mr Tossou revealed that “ERERA will finalise a transmission model that will ensure synergy in the electricity market for review in February, and we trust GRIDCo to play a critical role in the review of these models going-froward.”

The ERERA Chairman also enlightened GRIDCo on the upcoming launch of the regional electricity market’s second phase.

He also called for deeper collaboration with GRIDCo, with regard to the company’s experience and strategic relevance to the development of the market.

Other issues discussed included the integration of renewable energy into the electricity market, harmonization of national legal texts, data collection, capacity-building programmes for power sector practitioners and expansion of market infrastructure. 

The ERERA delegation was made up of its Regulatory Council Member, Dr Haliru Dikko; Head of Administration and Finance, Mr Ofosuhene Apenteng-Takyiako and Communication Officer, Mr Uwem Thompson.

Mandated to regulate cross-border trade in electricity in West Africa, ERERA’s functions include approving critical documents for the regional power market’s development.