Mr. Kingnidé Paulin Akponna, Benin’s Minister of Energy, Water and Mines, pays a courtesy visit to the WAPP

A Renewed Commitment to Strengthening Regional Energy Cooperation
As part of efforts to enhance the ties between the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the Government of Benin, Mr. Kingnidé Paulin Akponna, Minister of Energy, Water and Mines of the Republic of Benin, paid a courtesy visit to the WAPP headquarters in Calavi on Friday, May 9, 2025. This visit followed up on discussions initiated during an official audience previously granted by the Minister to the WAPP Secretary General, Mr. Abdoulaye DIA, a few weeks earlier.

Upon his arrival at the WAPP headquarters, Minister Akponna was welcomed by members of the Executive Committee. He then held a one-on-one meeting with the Secretary General, Mr. Abdoulaye DIA, before joining an extended working session that brought together directors and division heads for in-depth discussions on key areas of cooperation.

During the meeting, the Secretary General recalled the core mandate of WAPP as a key player in West Africa's energy integration agenda. He highlighted the organization's strategic priorities, notably the implementation of regional interconnection projects, which form the cornerstone of electrical cooperation among Member States, and the ambition to establish a unified electricity market in West Africa. Mr. DIA also emphasized the central role of the Information and Coordination Center (ICC), located in Calavi, which serves as a regional control tower overseeing the electricity systems of the fourteen ECOWAS member countries.

Minister Akponna, receptive to these presentations, commended WAPP's vision and unwavering commitment, reaffirming the steadfast support of the Government of Benin, proud host of this strategic regional institution. The Minister underscored Benin’s pride in both hosting the WAPP headquarters and the ICC, which stand as symbols of a forward-looking regional ambition toward sustainable energy integration.

In a spirit of reinforced collaboration, Minister Akponna expressed his intention to undertake a follow-up visit to WAPP in the near future, this time accompanied by the leadership of national electricity companies and members of his cabinet. This initiative aims to deepen exchanges and jointly explore concrete avenues for synergy, in support of regional integration and the harmonious development of the energy sector.