TRANSCOCLSG transcoclsg
Erick P. Ambroise ACHI is an energy infrastructure and power transmission professional with 19 years of experience in the planning, delivery, governance, and operationalization of large-scale infrastructure programs across West Africa. He currently serves as Acting Director of the Technical Department of TRANSCO CLSG, after previously serving as Head of Project and Technical Services within the same institution.
Since joining the CLSG interconnection project in 2014, Mr. ACHI has played a central role in the implementation and technical governance of the USD 540 million CLSG Regional Interconnection Project, one of West Africa’s flagship power-sector investments. The project spans Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, and comprises approximately 1,303 km of 225 kV transmission lines, 12 substations, SCADA infrastructure, SVC systems, rural electrification components, and interconnections with generation facilities.
In his technical leadership roles, he has contributed to engineering coordination, technical oversight, contract and performance management, risk mitigation, project reporting, operational readiness, stakeholder engagement, and the technical preparation of future network expansion initiatives, including the CLSG Second Circuit / CLSG 2 development, mining and IPP connections, and transmission capacity planning across the CLSG corridor.
Mr. ACHI has worked closely with national utilities, energy ministries, contractors, consultants, Owner’s Engineers, regional institutions, and development finance partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, KfW, MCC and USTDA. His work has helped strengthen technical governance, donor coordination, quality assurance, environmental and social compliance, and institutional capacity across a complex multi-country operating environment.
Mr. ACHI has also contributed to TRANSCO CLSG’s transformation from a construction-focused project entity into an operational regional transmission service operator. His contributions have supported the establishment of operational processes, reporting systems, O&M oversight mechanisms, asset management practices, and performance monitoring tools required for the reliable operation of a regional transmission backbone.
Looking ahead, Mr. ACHI is actively involved in the preparation and development of CLSG 2, the proposed second circuit and capacity expansion of the CLSG transmission backbone. This strategic initiative aims to strengthen regional transmission capacity, support growing demand from national utilities, mining companies, and independent power producers, and consolidate TRANSCO CLSG’s role as a key regional transmission service operator within the West African Power Pool.
Beyond the CLSG Interconnection Project, Mr. ACHI has been actively involved in regional power system coordination and integration initiatives. His work includes collaboration with national utilities and transmission system operators to facilitate the reliable operation, synchronization, and integration of interconnected power networks across West Africa, including coordination with neighboring systems such as OMVG and Guinea – Mali Project.
A notable example of this regional engagement was his participation in the 2023 TRANSCO CLSG delegation that held coordination meetings with the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du fleuve Gambie (OMVG). These discussions aimed to support the synchronization and interconnection of the CLSG and OMVG transmission networks, thereby enhancing regional transmission capacity, strengthening grid reliability, and facilitating cross-border electricity exchanges.
Prior to joining TRANSCO CLSG, Mr. ACHI served as West Africa Project Coordinator at INEO Énergie Export, GDF SUEZ Group, where he managed transmission and substation development programs across Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Benin. His experience included high-voltage transmission projects such as the 225 kV Bobo–Ouagadougou line, the 90 kV Pa–Wona line and Komsilga substation, the 63 kV Segou–Markala–Niono line, the 90 kV Bakel – Selibabi and rural electrification works in Benin.
Mr. ACHI combines strong technical expertise with strategic program leadership, donor coordination, governance, risk management, contract management, environmental and social compliance, and institutional strengthening. His professional development has been reinforced by executive training at INSEAD and HEC Paris, as well as participation in CIGRE technical forums.
Through his technical leadership, regional coordination experience, and results-driven approach, Mr. ACHI continues to contribute to the development of reliable, interconnected, and sustainable electricity infrastructure in West Africa. His current work supports the reliable and sustainable Operation and Mainenance of the CLSG grid, the strategic development of CLSG 2, the expansion of regional transmission capacity, the integration of new industrial loads and IPPs, and the broader objectives of regional energy security, power market integration, and socioeconomic development.
