Keynote Plenary — Regional Power Pools and Cross-Border Electricity Trade: From Potential to Implementation

A deep-dive panel on the political economy of regional integration in the power sector — financing transmission corridors, regulatory harmonization, and leveraging renewable energy assets across borders — opening with a live data presentation on the current state of intra-African power trade.

Moderated by Mrs. Fatou Diouf (Head of Communication and Influencing, ACBF), with an opening keynote by Dr. Kandeh Yumkella (Chairman, Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security, Sierra Leone), and panelists Ms. Sara Elhag (AUC), Mr. Chris Flavin (Gridworks), Mr. James Karari Wahogo (Eastern African Power Pool), Mr. Abdoulaye Dia (West African Power Pool) and Dr. Abdulkadir Shettima (ASR).

Objective: elevate regional power integration from a background technical discussion to a live policy priority — with the operational heads of both major African power pools giving candid assessments of what is holding back cross-border trade, and identifying two or three specific actions governments and DFIs could take in the next 18 months. Expected outcomes: a 'regional integration action shortlist' of concrete actions documented; candid assessments from EAPP and WAPP leadership elevating cross-border power trade to a live policy priority.