Commissioner Piebalgs signs project to build solar plant in Burkina Faso
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, April 23, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, has met today Lamoussa Salif Kaboré, Minister for Energy of Burkina Faso, to sign the financing agreement to support the construction of a solar power plant in that country. The project, announced by the end of last year, will provide between 22 and 33 megawatt peak (MWp) per year, the equivalent of 6% of the country's current electricity production. This will cover the energy consumption of around 400,000 people. The photovoltaic power plant located in Zagtouli, on the outskirts of Ouagadougou, will be operated by the national electricity company Sonabel. The EU will provide 40% of the funds (?25 million) for the construction of which will be the largest solar plant in sub-Saharan Africa. During the meeting with Minister Kaboré, Commissioner Piebalgs highlighted this project as an example of the good cooperation between the EU and partner countries in the field of energy, and the benefits of co-financing by banking entities (blending of funds). This project is a step forward towards achieving the EU target within the UN initiative 'Sustainable Energy For All' (SE4ALL), of helping developing countries to provide access to sustainable energy services to 500 million people by 2030.
