The African Development Bank Group has approved EUR 28 million in funding for a solar project in Chad, aiming to boost energy access in the country.
This project is part of the Bank’s Desert to Power programme, which seeks to increase energy access across Africa.
The total cost of the project is estimated at Euro 41 million.
The funding will support the construction of two solar power plants in Gassi and Lamadji, each with a capacity of 15 megawatts.
The project also includes new power stations, connection lines, and a 6-megawatt-hour battery system to store energy when the sun is not shining.
The project will increase power supply by 20%, paving the way for Chad’s energy transition from expensive, polluting fuel-based power to clean energy.
Besides, the project will create 200 jobs during construction and 34 permanent jobs during operation, with special opportunities for women and young people.
The solar plants are expected to generate 61 gigawatt-hours of clean energy each year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 49,000 tons annually.
Kevin Kariuki, Vice-President of the Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth complex at the African Development Bank, said: “The Gassi and Lamadji solar project is a landmark development that underscores Chad’s strong commitment to the transition to renewable energy under the Desert to Power Initiative, and the Bank’s continued commitment to supporting transformative, clean energy projects across the continent.
“This project not only facilitates the Government of Chad’s efforts to increase access to energy through renewable energy but also drives local economic growth and strengthens the country’s energy security.”
Wale Shonibare, the Bank’s Director of the Energy Financial Solutions, Policy, and Regulations department, added, “As a pioneering solar project in Chad, this initiative exemplifies the scale of renewable energy potential in the Sahel region.
“It demonstrates how strong partnerships and the Bank’s deployment of its suite of instruments and innovative solutions can advance the energy transition and foster sustainable economic development.”
The solar plants are expected to generate 61 gigawatt-hours of clean, reliable, and affordable energy each year responding to Chad’s energy deficit.
This will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 49,000 tons each year, helping Chad meet its climate change commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The project will create 200 jobs during construction, with special opportunities for women and young people and 34 permanent jobs during operation.
The project will generate revenue for the national treasury through taxes, reduce fuel subsidies, and improve the country’s balance of payments by reducing energy imports.
Aligned with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, the New Deal on Energy for Africa, and its High 5 objective of “Light Up and Power Africa,” the Gassi and Lamadji Solar PV project reinforces Chad’s commitment to increase energy access through renewable energy.
It also supports the African Development Bank’s mission to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient energy development across Africa.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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