The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, managed by the African Development Bank, is investing six million euros in an 18-megawatt solar power plant in Dédougou, Burkina Faso. This investment supports the broader Desert-to-Power initiative, which aims to transform the Sahel region into a major global solar energy hub.
Announced at a signing ceremony in Paris, the financing includes a concessional loan and a reimbursable grant. The Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank is also co-financing the project, highlighting growing private sector interest in renewable energy across West Africa.
As one of Burkina Faso’s first independent power producer projects, the Dédougou solar plant is expected to reshape the country’s electricity sector. It will help reduce reliance on imported energy, lower electricity costs, and expand access to reliable and affordable power in rural communities. The plant will deliver electricity under a long-term agreement with the national electricity utility, SONABEL.
Daniel Schroth, Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank, described the project as a milestone for Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region. He emphasized that solar energy can promote inclusive development and strengthen energy security.
The Dédougou project supports Burkina Faso’s national roadmap under the Desert-to-Power program and contributes to the African Development Bank’s goal of installing ten gigawatts of solar power and connecting two hundred and fifty million people across eleven Sahel countries by the year 2030.
The project’s developer, Qair Africa, which previously completed a 24-megawatt solar plant in Zano, sees this new initiative as a natural continuation of its efforts to scale up renewable energy in the region. The company reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the energy transition in Burkina Faso.
Incorporating a robust environmental and social management system, the project aims to deliver long-term local benefits by creating jobs, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and improving economic opportunities—especially in rural areas where electricity access remains limited.
source: africasustainabilitymatters.com
African Energy Council