ECOWAS hydrocarbons and environment experts meet in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The ministers in charge of hydrocarbons and the environment of member- countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold a joint meeting on 6 February here, a press release received by PANA said here Wednesday.
The release by the ECOWAS communication office specified that the meeting would follow that of the experts held here.
The joint ministerial meeting will examine the results of the study on the harmonization of fuel specifications and vehicle emission limits in the ECOWAS region.
According to the press release, the demand for fuel in the region has been growing rapidly for several years and reached nearly 28 million tonnes in 2018.
Despite the existence of eight refineries in the region with an overall capacity greater than current demand, it uses a massive import of fuels, which account for almost 75 percent of the total volume consumed.
This situation exposes the region to exogenous shocks from the international market and does not guarantee energy security in West Africa.
In addition, the fuel used in the region still contains excessively high sulfur levels compared to internationally accepted standards worldwide.
"The combustion of such fuel leads to polluting emissions which are harmful to the health of populations and accelerates the degradation of the environment," the press release noted.
This study was carried out jointly by the ECOWAS department of energy and mines and the department of agriculture, environment and water resources of the ECOWAS Commission, with the support of technical partners, including the Association of African Refiners (ARA), the African Organization of Petroleum Producers (APPO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Hydrocarbons and environment ministers will also meet separately on February 7, 2020 to discuss specific policy and strategy documents developed by ECOWAS in the hydrocarbons and environment sectors.
With regard to hydrocarbons, the second meeting of the ministers in charge of this sector will analyze results of the Study with a view to developing the ECOWAS Regional Strategy for the Popularization of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
They will also discuss the development of activities relating to the development of phase I of the West Africa Gas Pipeline extension project (Extension to Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso).
The ministers in charge of the environment will have to examine: the Draft ECOWAS 2019-2025 Environmental Action Plan; the project for the establishment of the Regional Coordination Mechanism for the Management of Chemicals and Hazardous Waste, and finally the draft Regional Roadmap for Fuel Savings.
These documents are part of the development of a dynamic integrated regional market for environmentally friendly hydrocarbons.
-0- PANA TNDD/IS/KND/RA 5Feb2020
