By: African mining market

Cotonou, Benin, is set to host the third West Africa Power and Energy Cooperation Conference and Exhibition (WAPECC) from December 3rd to 5th, 2025. Organized under the authority of Benin’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Water, the event serves as a key regional platform for dialogue on energy policy. It will convene government delegations, regional institutions, and industrial stakeholders, with significant participation from the mining sector, which relies heavily on stable energy infrastructure.

The conference will gather a wide range of participants, including representatives from ECOWAS, BOAD, and the West African Power Pool, alongside ministers and industry executives. This assembly aims to address coordination challenges between states, the development of cross-border electricity networks, and the energy solutions required to support industrial activity, particularly mining. According to Benin’s Minister of Energy and Mines, the edition represents an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and advance sustainable solutions for the region's growing energy needs.

A strategic focus will be the convergence of energy, infrastructure, and extraction. The event will bring together private companies and financial partners involved in these sectors. Discussions will center on improving electricity access, grid reliability, and energy costs—critical issues for mining companies with high energy consumption. International donors and regional banks will also outline investment priorities, including grid modernization, renewable energy deployment, and micro-grids for remote mining sites.

For the first time, WAPECC will feature an innovation competition showcasing technological solutions for the energy sector. Startups and companies will present advances in solar systems, smart energy management, and electrification for remote areas. Many of these innovations specifically target mining operations, aiming to improve off-grid reliability and reduce diesel dependence.

As energy demand in West Africa continues to rise, driven by industrial and extractive activities, WAPECC 2025 offers a strategic moment to analyze the region's shifting landscape. Debates on gas production, renewable integration, and cross-border infrastructure will be of direct concern to mining firms. For three days, Cotonou will become a crucial meeting point for stakeholders in a region where the future of extractive development is increasingly tied to progress in the energy transition.