The 10th edition of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2025) officially opened on Thursday 18 September 2025 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul.
The conference brought together policymakers, development partners, industry leaders, and civil society to advance the region’s clean energy transformation.
Hosted by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the Gambia Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, this year’s forum was held under the theme: “Accelerating Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Solutions for Growth in the ECOWAS Region.”
In his keynote speech on behalf of the Gambia president, Vice President Momodou B.S Jallow stated: “Over the years, this forum has grown into the premier platform for dialogue and collaboration on energy access, renewable energy, and energy efficiency in West Africa.”
The vice president made a call to action, saying: “ESEF is a celebration of achievements and a rallying call for the decade ahead. Let us seize this platform to forge stronger partnerships, exchange innovations and mobilize investments to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030.”
According to the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Nani Juwara, hosting ESEF 2025 was a proud moment for The Gambia. “It represents a significant opportunity for us all to foster regional integration,” he said. “Together, we can strengthen the regional electricity market and enhance transmission and distribution interconnection infrastructure among our member countries.”
In his opening address, ECREEE Executive Director Francis Sempore emphasised the timeliness of the theme: “After 15 years of continuous effort, it is important to highlight significant progress in the field of Sustainable Energy in West Africa. For example, the installed capacity of grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plants increased from 5 MW in 2010 to nearly 1 GW in 2025, with a projection of more than 5 GW by 2030.”
Ministerial Dialogue
Energy ministers from The Gambia, Cabo Verde and Sierra Leone, alongside the ECOWAS Commission and development partners, convened to discuss pathways for scaling up sustainable energy infrastructure for regional growth.
High-Level Session on Energy Efficiency
Regional leaders from ECREEE, EACREEE, and SACREEE highlighted the critical role of energy efficiency in improving livelihoods and reducing energy poverty across Africa.
Special Session on Clean Cooking
Stakeholders examined innovative strategies to expand access to clean cooking solutions, addressing both public health and environmental concerns.
The forum continues today, 19 September 2025, with sessions on powering food systems through clean energy, sustainable mobility, entrepreneurship in off-grid energy, and the implementation of the ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Strategy.
Over the past decade, ESEF has grown into the leading platform for sustainable energy dialogue and partnerships in West Africa, catalyzing investments, fostering innovation, and aligning regional priorities with global climate and development goals.
