This bibliographical survey of energy and the development of West Africa contains 774 entries and materials on all but one country of the region. This selectively annotated bibliography covers books, journal articles, conference and seminar proceedings, published and unpublished papers, and official documents. The majority of the materials were published after 1970, but earlier literature is included if important for understanding energy development and West Africa today. Most references are in English, but a few entries appear in French, German, and Russian. Roughly 70 percent of the entries have been annotated. This unique bibliography is intended for broad-interdisciplinary academic and professional use.

Entries are grouped under four main sections: 1) developing countries, 2) Africa, continent-wide, 3) West Africa, regional, and 4) individual West Africa countries. Entries are also listed under general sub-headings and in relation to energy sources, such as alcohol, oil and gas, uranium, hydropower, solar, wind, and wood. Author and subject indexes refer to entry numbers.