Republic of Benin | 37 With regards to my organisation and my role, the WAPP is a specialised institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responsible for the integration of the power systems of member countries in the West African region. It was established by the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of States in 1999. Since July 2015, I have had the honour of serving as the Secretary General of the West African Power Pool (WAPP). In this role, I have worked actively to promoting regional cooperation and integration in the field of electric power in West Africa. I led initiatives towards strengthening electricity interconnections between member countries, promoting renewable energies and improving energy efficiency in the region. I am very pleased to be working with my WAPP colleagues, the ECOWAS member states and other regional and international partners to promote the sustainable development of electric power in West Africa and improve the quality of life of our fellow citizens.” You have been with WAPP since 2015. How has the organisation changed since your arrival? Since joining WAPP, we have witnessed significant progress and transformation within the organisation. One of the notable changes is the strengthened relationship between the organisation’s technical and financial partners and other stakeholders of the power sector in the West African countries. The number of WAPP members has grown from 13 in 2006 to 39 today, including national companies and independent power producers across the region. We have strong relationships with member utilities, regulatory authorities and ministries in charge of power in these countries, as well as with the development partners. “I am Ki Siengui Apollinaire, an electromechanical engineer from Burkina Faso with over 37 years’ experience in the power sector. As a seasoned professional, I have held various positions of responsibility during my career. Prior to joining WAPP, I held the position of the Managing Director of Société Nationale d’Électricité du Burkina (SONABEL) from May 2011 to July 2014. This experience enabled me to develop in-depth expertise in the management of large-scale energy operations and to contribute to improving access to electricity in my country. In addition, I also had the opportunity to serve as Advisor to the Minister of Energy and Mines in Burkina Faso, as well as the WAPP’s Resident Expert in The Gambia, from August 2014 to July 2015. These roles enabled me to contribute my technical expertise and strategic advice to support the development of the energy sector in the region. Outside of my professional career, I am a married man and proud father of four. My family is a source of inspiration and constant support to me in all my endeavors.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk3Mzkz