- Burkina Faso boosts grid by 68 MW with new solar power plants in Pâ and Kodéni.
- Prime Minister inaugurates facilities emphasising clean and cost-effective energy.
Burkina Faso unveiled two solar power plants in Pâ and Kodéni, adding 68 MW to its grid. In December 2023, the Prime minister highlighted the country’s commitment to clean and affordable solar power by inaugurating these facilities. The Kodéni solar project, jointly owned by SONABEL and Kodeni Solar under Africa REN, cost over 45 million euros (30 billion CFA francs).
The project aims to double from 38 MWp to 76 MWp, preventing 43,000 tonnes of CO2 yearly. Managed by the French energy group Urbasolar, the Pâ power station, established through a 19 billion CFA franc (€28.8 million) PPP signed in 2020, will connect nearly 31,000 households to the SONABEL grid and save 32,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year.
According to the World Bank, these initiatives align with Burkina Faso’s strategy to boost electricity access, which stood at an estimated 19% in 2019. The Nagréongo photovoltaic solar power plant, financed by a €21 million loan from the Netherlands Development Finance Corporation (FMO) and inaugurated in 2022, represents a key milestone in the country’s shift towards renewable energy.