Page 12 - AfrElec Week 34 2021

AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec

Turkey’s Desiba Energy agrees with

Gabon to install 20 MW solar park

AFRICA TURKEY’S Desiba Energy has agreed a deal installed capacity by 250 MW by 2025. Libreville
with the government of Gabon to install a 20 will focus on renewable energies, particularly
MW solar park in the Central African country. solar photovoltaic.
A framework investment agreement with the Other foreign investors include Total Eren, an
Gabonese government was signed on August independent power producer (IPP) 30% owned
23, Carmen Ndaot, Gabon’s Minister of Indus- by the Total Energies.
try and National Entrepreneurship, announced It signed a preliminary agreement with the
on Twitter. Gabonese Ministry of Energy and Water to
The Mouila photovoltaic (PV) project in build a 50-MW solar PV plant near the capital
Doubou, Ngounie province, will be Desiba’s Libreville.
first investment in Gabon. The investment cost The World Bank has said Gabon will require
is estimated at €27mn ($31.7mn). The project is at least 1,250 MW of power generation capacity
scheduled to be completed in 12 months. by 2040 to address its electrification issues.
Desiba has signed a deal with the state-owned According to the US government’s Energy
utility to sell the power for €0.14 per kWh. Information Agency (EIA), Gabon’s installed
Most of the solar farm’s output, coming from capacity was 750 MW in 2018. Thermal power
15 MW of its capacity, is to purchased by the from fossil fuels accounts for 56%, or 418 MW.
Energy and Water Company of Gabon (SEEG). Hydroelectricity accounts for 44% of total capac-
Gabon is working to a Transformation Accel- ity. Biomass and solar share the remaining 2.2
eration Plan (PAT) under which it is attempting MW.
to widen access to electricity and deliver job Solar PV will allow Gabon to diversify its
creation. electricity mix and increase access-to-power
The government wants to increase Gabon’s rates in slum urban and rural areas.™

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 34 26•August•2021