Ouagadougou: In a significant development for the Sahel region, key strategic documents were approved to boost independent power production at the fifth ministerial meeting of the Desert to Power project. Spearheaded by the African Development Bank, this meeting marked an important milestone in the initiative’s progress.
According to African Press Organization, the meeting provided an opportunity to assess the advancements made in the Desert to Power Initiative and approve two critical strategic documents: the Joint Protocol for Independent Power Producers (IPP) and the Strategy for the Promotion of Green Mini-Grids. The IPP Joint Protocol, developed in collaboration with the Desert to Power Taskforce and the African Legal Support Facility, establishes standardised principles and documentation to support the development of large-scale solar power plants through public-private partnerships. The mini-grid strategy aims to create a framework to expedite implementation and encourage participation.
The meeting also featured a technical workshop on financial modelling, focusing on enhancing financial analysis tools for the viability of Sahelian national utilities. General managers and financial directors of national utilities actively participated in discussions.
Gouba expressed gratitude to the African Development Bank for its support, stating that the meeting provided a fresh start. He urged participants to double their efforts and work cohesively to achieve the set objectives.
Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Electricity, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, applauded the ministers, noting that the validated Common Protocol is a vital lever for accelerating privately financed solar projects in the Sahel. He emphasized the importance of Mission 300, a collaborative effort between the African Development Bank and the World Bank, aiming to provide electricity access to an additional 300 million people in Africa by 2030.
On the sidelines, participants toured the Gonsin photovoltaic power plant, located northwest of Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. The 42 MWp plant, featuring a 10-megawatt storage system, exemplifies the tangible results and impact of the Desert to Power Initiative in Burkina Faso.
