Burkina Faso: Ministerial meeting in Ouagadougou to strengthen regional cooperation on solar energy
The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo hosted energy ministers from Niger, Djibouti, Chad, and Mauritania today, alongside a Malian representative, for critical discussions on advancing the Desert to Power initiative.
The meeting underscored Burkina Faso’s central role in driving regional energy cooperation since the program’s 2019 launch in Ouagadougou.
During the closed-door session, delegates reviewed progress on this ambitious solar energy project while praising Burkina Faso’s continued leadership.
Prime Minister Ouédraogo stressed the urgent need for coordinated action to overcome the Sahel’s chronic energy shortages, which remain a major obstacle to economic growth and social development.
Niger’s Energy Minister Professor Amadou Haoua, speaking to reporters afterward, framed the initiative as a game-changer: “We are meeting in Ouagadougou to take stock of Desert to Power, a strategic project that brings together the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Mauritania, Chad and the sister Republic of Djibouti. This project is crucial for our Sahelian countries, which face a chronic energy deficit despite immense solar potential”.
The African Development Bank-backed program represents one of Africa’s most ambitious renewable energy undertakings, with plans to deliver 10 gigawatts of solar-generated electricity across participating countries.
The comprehensive approach addresses five critical areas: expanding generation capacity, modernizing transmission networks, strengthening utility companies, creating regional interconnections, and attracting private investment to the energy sector.
With most Sahelian nations currently experiencing electricity access rates below 50% despite possessing some of the planet’s highest solar irradiation levels, successful implementation could transform energy security for nearly 250 million people. Today’s high-level consultations focused on removing implementation bottlenecks to accelerate progress toward these goals.
Energy analysts view the gathering as particularly timely, given growing international interest in Africa’s renewable energy potential and the Sahel’s pressing need for sustainable development solutions.
The Desert to Power initiative continues gaining momentum as participating countries work to translate their abundant sunshine into reliable electricity that can power homes, businesses, and industrial growth across the region.
Olivier TOE
