Sakai solar power plant becomes operational

The Sakai solar power plant in the Central African Republic is officially operational. The power station located close to Bangui, the country’s capita, is general contracted by China Energy Construction Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd. (Energy China Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd.), with an installed capacity of 15MW.

“Energy is the basis of everything, because without it we can do nothing. This infrastructure will increase the overall electricity supply in Bangui for the benefit of households, economic development and, in particular, industry,” explains Arthur Bertran Piri, the Central African Minister for Energy Development and Water Resources.

READ:Namibia seeks consultant for two waste valorization plants project

Energy access rate

Energy access in the Central African Republic is extremely limited for both electricity and non-solid fuels. According to World Bank estimates rural regions, are still not connected to the national power network, only provides 4% of the population of Central Africa. The city of Bangui has a 20% electrification rate.

Renewable energies are limited by many factors, including an inadequate institutional and legal framework, insufficient planning and coordination, internal capacity, lack of financing. Energy efficiency measures are also limited by a lack of a proper institutional framework.

The 2015-2030 Investment Project is what the CAR government are relying on to correct this. It consists of the Lobaye hydroelectric scheme (75 MW), Dimoli hydroelectric scheme (180 MW), Lancrenon hydroelectric scheme (20 MW, on the border with Cameroon), Kotto hydroelectric scheme (40 MW), as well as the rehabilitation of the Boali II hydroelectric plant (10 MW to 15 MW). According to the Central African authorities, a power transmission network should go along with these infrastructures, which would cost almost US $3.7bn in total.