Niger faces the challenge of solar energy

2023-05-17 23:18:04
On the occasion of the second Europe-Africa forum which was held on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 May 2023 in Marseille, dozens of big bosses, start-uppers, ministers from both shores of the Mediterranean met in the city. Marseille. In debate: the agriculture of tomorrow or energies. On the continent, some have opted for sustainability. This is the case of Niger, turned towards solar energy. The hundreds of Gorou Banda solar panels will soon be connected to the Nigerien electricity system. In the coming months, tens of thousands of inhabitants of Niamey might see their destiny changed, according to the Minister of State for Energy and Renewable Energies. To catch up, Niger has opted for solar power. And there is everything to do for Ibrahima Yacouba. “We already have public solar power plants in partnership with the European Union and France which are being built in the north in Agadez and Niamey. This will enable us to have – in total – 50 to 60 megawatts by the end of the year. This is extremely important in terms of volumes and infrastructure produced. With what we are doing and if we maintain the pace, we will be above our objectives, and at more than 35% of the energy mix within ten years. And Niger was starting from almost zero. Barely 1 in 10 Nigeriens has electricity. The country, one of the sunniest in the world, has logically turned to photovoltaics, but solar remains a challenge. What is needed for this? “May stability be guaranteed,” said Minister Ibrahim Yacouba. One of the weaknesses of solar power is this intermittency and we are setting up hybrid power stations (solar and diesel) in the regions so that stability is guaranteed and we pay attention to the network in which we invest a lot. Other projects are under study with another solar park of more than 100 megawatts. There will also be some in Maradi, Dosso and Diffa. An ambitious policy that attracts foreign companies. This is the case of Sungy. The Franco-Algerian start-up, present in Algeria and Gabon in particular, primarily targets industries or banks, and is currently prospecting in Niger, explains Myriam Fournier-Kacimi, president of Sungy. “A stable or at least known price for the next 25 years, and an energy sovereignty that will protect it from having all the cuts, fluctuations in price, availability of electricity”. With 45 billion euros raised in Paris last December, Niger intends to make solar the axis of its development.
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