Exim Bank of India is providing USD 40 million to the Togolese government for the electrification of 350 localities via solar photovoltaic energy. This project should improve access to electricity in Togo.
The financing agreement worth $40 million was signed recently between Sani Yaya, Togo’s Minister of Economy and Finance, and Selva Kumar, the representative of Exim Bank of India. The Indian financial institution is providing the funding through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an intergovernmental alliance that aims to encourage greater use of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels worldwide.
The funds allocated by New Delhi will go towards the electrification of 350 localities through the installation of off-grid solar systems in 500 schools. The Togolese government will use the new funds to install 12,000 solar street lights in the affected localities. The agriculture sector will benefit from this clean energy project, as it will also allow the acquisition of 2,000 solar-powered irrigation systems. In the area of drinking water, the Togolese government and its partner plan to equip 500 drinking water supply systems (AEP) with solar-powered pumping systems.
“This project is in line with Togo’s electrification strategy and fits perfectly with the National Development Plan (NDP) and the objectives of the Togo 2025 roadmap, particularly in its axis 1, which is to strengthen social inclusion and harmony and to guarantee peace,” said Minister Sani Yaya.
The signing of the financing agreement between the Togolese government and the Exim Bank of India came just one day after the commissioning of the Blitta solar power plant (50 MWp), which should also support the Togolese authorities’ efforts to achieve an electricity access rate of 75% in 2025 and 100% by 2030. For the time being, Lomé still has a long way to go since the current level of this West African country is 52.4% according to the World Bank’s 2019 report.
Jean Marie Takouleu
