Energy cooperation as a tool for economic development

Founded in 1975 the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has among other objectives the strengthening of cooperation and the development of member countries. Within this framework it has included access to safe and sufficient energy for all its states among its development strategies. Indeed the region is still characterised by significant energy poverty and has to deal with recurrent disruptions in the supply of electrical energy. Faced with this situation which has a considerable impact on the economic development of ECOWAS countries the community institution decided to act by developing the region's energy potential. Thus it was decided to build a gas pipeline to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Benin Togo and Ghana for electricity production. The 678 km long pipeline which came into operation in 2011 has not been able to fully meet its original objectives. However despite its shortcomings it remains a development tool for the region that needs to be made fully operational.