The Inception Workshop for the Global Elimination Program for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (GEP-PCB) was held from 27 to 29 January 2026 at the African Development Bank headquarters in Abidjan. The event marked a significant step in supporting African countries to fulfill their obligations under the Stockholm Convention while enhancing the performance and sustainability of their electricity sectors. The workshop convened representatives from government ministries, utilities, and GEP-PCB partners, fostering coordination, knowledge-sharing, and stakeholder engagement, thereby establishing a solid foundation for effective PCB elimination and scaling efforts across the continent.
The GEP-PCB is a multi-country initiative aimed at eliminating PCB use in equipment by 2025 and implementing environmentally sound management of PCB liquids and contaminated equipment by 2028. The program integrates PCB identification, safe handling, equipment replacement, and disposal into routine energy operations through investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure. By standardizing procedures, harmonizing procurement, and supporting grid modernization, the program ensures that PCB elimination efforts are efficient and scalable. Its overall goal is to remove approximately 8,750 tons of PCBs across six countries, promoting best available techniques and replacing contaminated equipment with more efficient transformers.
The initiative is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the World Bank in partnership with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions Secretariat and implementing agencies such as the African Development Bank, UNDP, and UNEP. Robust financing and partnerships are crucial to prevent ongoing PCB leaks and cross-contamination, which pose health risks, increase cleanup liabilities, and undermine electricity system reliability.
Workshop participants emphasized integrating PCB elimination into ongoing and planned transmission and distribution projects to meet the 2025 and 2028 targets. They highlighted urgent capacity and funding gaps, calling for stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate implementation while addressing gender, health, and energy transition priorities. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the BRS Conventions, described the program as a decisive measure to eliminate toxic PCBs from national grids and stressed the need for closer collaboration with investors and utilities due to shrinking donor resources.
Jiang Ru, Manager of the Global Environment Department at the World Bank Group, underscored that effective PCB management is foundational for safe and efficient grid and transformer replacement projects, protecting workers and communities while enhancing productivity and competitiveness. Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, Manager for Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, emphasized the bank’s involvement through its child project in Uganda and highlighted the value of partnerships forged under the program, which bring together the GEF, World Bank, regional development banks, and UN agencies.
