2023-12-03 23:02:44
The need for electricity is enormous, one in two Africans does not have access to it. A figure that has been increasing for several years. In the Central African Republic, the government is banking on electricity to ensure the country’s sustainable socio-economic development. The Central African authorities inaugurated the second solar power plant on Friday November 17 in Danzi, a village located north of Bangui. A reason for hope for the residents and traders of the capital plagued by incessant cuts.
From our correspondent in Bangui,
Ice water sellers can be found in all the streets and in all the markets of Bangui. With bowls on their heads or bags of iced water in their hands, they slip between vehicles and passers-by to sell their goods.
But in recent weeks, Abigaëlle has not been able to meet demand because of recurring power cuts in her sector. “ This problem is beyond me. I sell iced water, local juice and yogurt. But in recent weeks, nothing has worked. Several times, I had to throw away my products due to power cuts and this caused me significant financial losses. I get by with this activity which allows me to live. But with these multiple cuts, I can’t get out of it “, she laments.
These cuts have repercussions on all socio-economic activities in the capital, and even businesses are not spared. To overcome this problem, the authorities are counting on this new solar power plant. Covering an area of 70 hectares, this installation has a capacity of 25 megawatts and includes nearly 47,000 solar panels.
Power cuts, despite the power plant
« The inauguration of the Danzi photovoltaic solar power plant once once more demonstrates our commitment to diversifying sources of electricity production. It can be summarized in three main priorities: a more inclusive society, an economy more open to competition and better capabilities for populations. », Explains the President of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
Despite the commissioning of the first solar power plant in Sakaï on March 27, the load shedding regime has not changed. In the nine districts of Bangui, the Central Africans we met face the same problems.
« In the PK5 district, before the commissioning of the first solar power plant, we benefited from around nine hours of electricity per day. But so far, nothing has really changed. Every day, the distribution of electricity is disrupted by general outages. Some companies and places of business use generators to run their activities », Testifies Ousmane Nour, a resident of PK5.
According to a source at the Central African Energy Directorate (ENERCA), outages are sometimes caused by technical breakdowns. With the inauguration of the second Danzi solar power plantCentral African electricity production increases from 72 to 96 megawatts while the country’s general need is estimated at 250 megawatts.
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