The West African Power Pool (WAPP) has entered into a landmark strategic relationship with an Israeli company, solar developer Gigawatt Global and signed a deal with the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to build $1 billion renewable energy projects in the region.
A statement issued by the Press Officer of the Embassy of Israel to Nigeria,ZanswatBowsan, made available to BusinessDay on Tuesday noted that progress has been made following Israel’s deep and long lasting relations with Africa specifically boosted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s initiative to strengthen those ties with the region.
Recall that the Israeli’s deep interest in West Africa was highlighted in Monrovia, Liberia, on June 5th 2017, when the Israeli Prime Minister addressed ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit.
“With that spirit and on the sides of the summit, Ambassador Guy Feldman, Israel Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, initiated a meeting attended by ECOWAS Energy CommissionerMebaGermainEssohouna, the Head of the West African Chamber of Commerce, MorlayeBangoura and Josef Abramowitz Gigawatt Global CEO who already exploring solar fields in 10 African countries,” the statement said.
Following a series of rigorous meetings with ECOWAS energy commission stakeholders, looking into power supply forecasts, challenges and plans for the ECOWAS region, a letter of intent was signed between Marcel De Souza, former President of the ECOWAS Commission, and the company, to develop an 800 MW of trans-boundary green energy projects across the West African region.
The deal will help build the West Africa Power Pool, which is a unit of ECOWAS. It was set up to implement this agreement and create a regional electricity system. The deal builds on an agreement inked by the United States and Israel, December 4th 2017, where the two governments pledged to work together to reduce energy poverty in Africa.
Ambassador Feldman said today – “This MOU signed with WAPP, is a powerful metaphor to the West and the rest of Africa. It paves the way for future Israeli innovation, which when joined by visionaries and institutions, can challenge anything and create hope for all,” the statement said.
