WEST AFRICA NEEDS REGIONAL ENERGY MARKET TO UNLOCK $3TN WEALTH – EXPERT

West Africa needs a stronger regional energy market to unlock an estimated $3 trillion in economic wealth, an energy expert has said.

The expert said closer cooperation among countries in the region could help improve electricity supply, expand energy access, and create new investment opportunities across the energy sector.

He noted that West Africa has significant energy resources, including natural gas, oil, hydropower, and renewable energy, but weak regional integration continues to limit the full economic value of these resources.

A properly integrated regional energy market, he said, would allow countries to share electricity and other energy resources more efficiently while reducing supply gaps and improving reliability.

The expert also called for greater investment in cross-border transmission infrastructure and stronger regulatory cooperation among countries.

Stakeholders said regional energy integration could reduce the cost of power, support industrial development, and improve the competitiveness of businesses across West Africa.

They also noted that a larger regional market could attract more private investment into power generation, transmission, gas infrastructure, and renewable energy projects.

The expert urged governments to strengthen existing regional energy institutions and remove regulatory barriers that discourage cross-border energy trade.

He said unlocking the region’s energy potential would require long-term planning, political cooperation, private-sector participation, and sustained investment in infrastructure.

Stakeholders agreed that a functional regional energy market could become an important driver of economic growth and help West Africa make better use of its abundant energy resources.