Benin and Togo will now import electricity separately

Energy

Wednesday, 28 November 2018 16:47

Benin and Togo will now import electricity separately

(Togo First) - Starting January 1, 2019, Benin and Togo will separately import electricity to meet their needs. This was decided during the inter-governmental summit held in Lomé, November 27, 2018, in the presence of the two countries’ respective leaders, Faure Gnassingbé and Patrice Talon.

Up till now, the Communauté Electrique du Bénin (CEB), develops electricity infrastructure in both Benin and Togo, purchasing power for the two States also as they both co-own the organization. Regarding the latter, both countries had agreed not to separately conclude any power importation agreement.

However, a final statement released yesterday indicates that “each State will directly import additional power it needs”, starting next year.

In effect, the CEB will be restructured for more efficiency and will from now only “manage power transport network and continue operating the Nangbéto dam as well as the two gas turbines installed in the two countries”.

Yesterday in Lomé, the organization was effectively (with an agreement signed) placed under provisional administration. As a result, “a transitional management will be put in place next January 1, 2019”, the two governments declared.

This management will, within six months, under the supervision of the High Inter-States Council (including eight ministers) have to initiate recruitment of a delegated manager who will launch the firm’s restructuring.

“Regarding the debt that the CEB owes its power suppliers (TCN, VRA, GRIDCo and CIE), a deal will be reached for its payment,” says the note released by the organization.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.