Africa Energy: AdDB supports Mali first solar plant construction

Solar energy has boosted salaries and brought an influx of workers into towns like Pofadder, — Solar energy has boosted salaries and brought an influx of workers into towns in Africa

Mali’s first utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant, the 33 MW Segou project, which will be built at a cost of $25-million. The project will increase the country¹s installed capacity from renewable resources and will generate 52.7 GWh/y, or about 10% of current generation capacity, over 25 years.

The project will be funded under the Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries funding window of The Climate Investment Funds, with co-financing from the AfDB and International Finance Corporation. Each is contributing $8.4-million.

The project will be implemented by a special purpose vehicle that is fully owned by the private sector under a 25-year build, own, operate and transfer concession agreement with the government of Mali and a 25-year power purchase agreement with Mali¹s national utility, Énergie du Mali.

“Introducing utility-scale solar PV as an energy source will enable Mali to harness its abundant solar energy potential, diversify the country’s energy mix and increase access to cleaner energy for its citizens,” said AfDB climate change and green growth director Anthony Nyong.(source: Miningweekly)