As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainable development and equitable access to energy, LINPICO SARL was selected by the ECOWAS Commission, through the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), to conduct a strategic mission to analyze import duties applied to off-grid solar photovoltaic products in ECOWAS member countries.
A high-stakes mission for the energy transition in West Africa
The main objective of this 18-month mission is to assess and reconcile the interests of three major stakeholders:
- customs administrations,
- national industrial stakeholders,
- and energy authorities.
The analysis will focus in particular on tariff barriers to the importation of off-grid solar products, in order to propose balanced recommendations to facilitate access to sustainable electrification solutions for households and businesses.
Technical work based on HS codes for solar products
One of the key components of this mission is the development of technical information sheets on the Harmonized System (HS) codes applicable to off-grid solar photovoltaic equipment. These sheets aim to facilitate the harmonized identification of products by customs services, enhance the transparency of procedures, and support the regional harmonization of import policies.
Multi-sector expertise is mobilized:
LINPICO is mobilizing a multidisciplinary team for this mission, combining expertise in customs policy, local industries, renewable energy, and regional trade regulations. This project is fully in line with the dynamics of ROGEAP, implemented with the support of the World Bank and the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).