Regional Integration and Energy Sustainability in Africa: Exploring the Challenges and Prospects for ECOWAS

Opeyemi Akinyemi (), Uchenna Efobi, Evans Osabuohien () and Philip Alege ()
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Opeyemi Akinyemi: CEPDeR, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
Philip Alege: CEPDeR, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

No 19/081, Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. from African Governance and Development Institute.

Abstract: This study explores the extent to which regional integration can be a viable tool in driving energy sustainability in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region of Africa, and vice versa. It examines the existing opportunities and the attendant challenges for improved firms’ productivity in the sub-region through the appraisal of the ECOWAS West African Power Pool (WAPP). Using three measures of energy sustainability, namely: energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability; the study presents the performance of the ECOWAS sub-region in ensuring regional integration for energy sustainability. The findings from the study reveal, inter alia, that there are prospects and benefits for energy integration for sustainable development in the region. Though some progress had been made, there are many challenges. Also, where progress had been made, it is not uniform across the sub-region, though factors such as rising population and political instability could be responsible. It is recommended that the political economy surrounding regional energy integration should be given a priority among the Member States to ensure that there is positive political will for speedy achievement of set goals. Also, investment in human capital to manage the different projects and maintain the facilities cannot be overemphasised.

Keywords: ECOWAS; Energy; Green growth; Sustainable development; Regional Integration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F15 P28 Q43 R11 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 24
Date: 2019-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env and nep-int
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (32)

Forthcoming: African Development Review

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http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/Region ... bility-in-Africa.pdf Revised version, 2019 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Regional Integration and Energy Sustainability in Africa: Exploring the Challenges and Prospects for ECOWAS (2019)
Working Paper: Regional Integration and Energy Sustainability in Africa: Exploring the Challenges and Prospects for ECOWAS (2019)
Working Paper: Regional Integration and Energy Sustainability in Africa: Exploring the Challenges and Prospects for ECOWAS (2019)
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