- WAPP North Core Power Project Hits 75% Completion
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) North Core 330kV Interconnection Project, linking Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Togo, has surpassed 75 per cent completion.
Participating countries and development partners are now pushing to address outstanding challenges and accelerate work to ensure timely delivery of the regional power infrastructure.
The milestone was highlighted at the opening of the 8th Joint Supervision Mission of the project’s financing partners, held in Abuja from October 26 to November 6, 2026.
The meeting reviewed progress, examined outstanding challenges, and explored measures to fast-track completion of the remaining works.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the WAPP Executive Board and Managing Director/CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, the General Manager, Program Coordination, TCN, Engr. Aminu Tahir, called for sustained cooperation, timely decision-making and continued commitment from all stakeholders.
He said the progress reflected years of dedicated effort by engineers, technicians, project personnel, participating governments and development partners.
He stressed that the priority now is to complete the outstanding construction works and ensure the investment translates into reliable electricity infrastructure that supports regional power exchanges.
In his address, WAPP Secretary General, Mr Abdoulaye Dia, represented by the Director of Planning, Investment Programming and Environmental Safeguards (PIPES), Mr Kodjo Afidegnon, emphasised the strategic importance of the project for regional electricity integration.
He noted that the initiative, launched in 2019, was designed to strengthen electricity supply security, facilitate cross-border electricity exchanges, and support the development of the regional electricity market.
Dia listed challenges that affected implementation, including insecurity along parts of the project corridor, flooding, COVID-19, supply chain disruptions, difficult political circumstances and border closures.
He said the challenges contributed to delays, increased costs, and suspension of construction in some locations to protect personnel.
Despite the setbacks, sustained cooperation among participating countries, national utilities and financing partners has kept the project on track.
In Benin, The Malanville substation has been provisionally accepted, and work on the Niger River crossing is underway.
*In Burkina Faso:* The Ouaga Est and Ouaga Sud-Est substations, along with 33km of 225kV transmission lines linking them to the network, have been commissioned.
*In Niger:* Equipment installed at Niamey II and Gazaoua has been operational since July, supporting stabilisation of the two existing 132kV interconnection lines supplying Niger from Nigeria.
*In Nigeria:* Work is ongoing to complete the 330kV transmission line and prepare for its connection to the national grid.
*Social Impact*
The project has compensated 5,726 project-affected persons, and almost all reported grievances have been resolved.
It has also electrified 170 communities in Burkina Faso and Niger and created 2,483 jobs along the project corridor.
*AfDB Calls For Speed Without Compromise*
An African Development Bank (AfDB) representative said the mission must be results-oriented — to identify practical measures to accelerate implementation, address security concerns and contractor performance challenges, and safeguard the completion schedule.
The representative emphasised that accelerated implementation must not compromise environmental and social safeguards, health and safety, or protection of workers and host communities.
He also noted that delays in any participating country would undermine expected benefits, as completing critical infrastructure in Niger is essential to realising the project’s full benefits.
The AfDB reaffirmed its commitment to supporting participating countries, national utilities and WAPP to complete the project.
The successful completion of the WAPP North Core Project is expected to strengthen regional interconnection, facilitate cross-border power trade, and enhance cooperation among participating countries.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the WAPP North Core Project Management Unit, Ministries of Energy and Finance in participating countries, and national electricity utilities of Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.
