Stakeholders implementing the West African Power Pool (WAPP) North Core 330kV Interconnection Project have stressed the need to protect critical electricity infrastructure from security threats and ensure the timely completion of the regional power project, which has now surpassed 75 per cent completion.
The call was made during the 8th Joint Supervision Mission of the project’s financing partners held in Abuja, where participating countries and development partners reviewed progress and discussed measures to accelerate the completion of outstanding works.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the WAPP Executive Board and Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, the General Manager, Programme Coordination, TCN, Engr. Aminu Tahir, said sustained cooperation and commitment from stakeholders would be critical as the project enters its final implementation phase.
According to him, the project’s progress reflects years of effort by engineers, technicians, participating governments and development partners, with attention now focused on completing the remaining construction works and delivering infrastructure capable of supporting regional electricity exchanges.
WAPP Secretary General, Abdoulaye Dia, represented by the Director of Planning, Investment Programming and Environmental Safeguards, Kodjo Afidegnon, said the project had faced major implementation challenges, including insecurity along sections of the project corridor, flooding, the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, political difficulties and border closures.
He said the challenges contributed to delays, increased project costs and temporary suspension of construction activities in some locations to protect personnel.
Despite the setbacks, the project has recorded significant milestones across participating countries. In Benin, the Malanville substation has been provisionally accepted, while work on the Niger River crossing is ongoing.
Burkina Faso has commissioned the Ouaga Est and Ouaga Sud-Est substations as well as 33 kilometres of 225kV transmission lines connecting them to the network.
In Niger, equipment installed at Niamey II and Gazaoua has been operational since July, helping to stabilise two existing 132kV interconnection lines supplying the country from Nigeria.
Work is also continuing in Nigeria to complete the 330kV transmission line and connect it to the national grid.
The project has equally delivered social and environmental benefits, including compensation for 5,726 project-affected persons, electrification of 170 communities in Burkina Faso and Niger, and the creation of 2,483 jobs along the project corridor.
An African Development Bank (AfDB) representative called for a results-oriented approach to tackle security concerns and contractor performance challenges while keeping the completion schedule on track.
The representative noted that delays in any participating country could affect the overall benefits of the regional interconnection, particularly as key infrastructure in Niger remains critical to the project’s success.
Upon completion, the WAPP North Core Project is expected to strengthen regional electricity interconnection, facilitate cross-border power trading and improve electricity supply reliability across Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.
