Niger/Energy revolution: The country opts for solar power
The Nigerien Electricity Company (Nigelec) has commissioned a 30-megawatt photovoltaic power plant to offset significant shortages since Nigeria stopped supplying electricity to Niger in response to the July coup, announced the Energy Minister on Sunday.
Indeed, the country relies 75% on electricity supplies from the Kainji Dam in the neighboring Nigeria, according to a 2022 report from this company. However, in recent years, successive governments have aimed to reverse this trend by developing their own energy production, focusing on renewable and thermal sources. Electricity production was even liberalized in 2017 to allow private companies to generate electricity.
Equipped with over 55000 solar panels, this plant is the largest solar energy infrastructure ever implemented in Niger. Nigelec already notes an ‘improvement in service quality‘ for its subscribers, particularly in the capital Niamey (with 1.5 million inhabitants), Dosso (south), and Tillabéri (west), explained Mahaman Moustapha Barké, the Nigerien Energy Minister, in a television interview.
The plant was supposed to be operational since August 25, but its commissioning was delayed due to the departure from Niger of ‘most of the expatriate technical staff‘ after the military coup on July 26, he indicated. However, the startup of the plant became possible thanks to ‘certain technicians’ who remained in Niamey, he added, without further details.
«Although the plant couldn’t be completed under the initially planned conditions, operational risks still arise», warned the French Embassy in Niger in a statement on Sunday. The installation had been inaugurated on July 5 by the ousted President, Mohamed Bazoum, and by Josep Borrell, the head of the European Union’s diplomacy.
