BUSINESS
BENIN: Solar energy: Construction work for the first Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant launched
Thursday, November 19, 2020 was a day full of activities for the Minister of Energy, Mr. Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU. This day began with a workshop to launch and operationalize the National Framework for Gender and Social Inclusion in the energy sector in Benin, the opening ceremony of which, chaired by the Minister of Energy, took place. held at Benin Royal Hotel in Cotonou.
Benin has signed international agreements to ensure greater gender equality in development actions and has adopted a national gender promotion policy, the action plan of which has already expired. In 2018, a group of women and men matured the idea of setting up a consultation framework on issues of gender and social inclusion in connection with the energy sector. This project has reached cruising speed thanks to Minister Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU. A decree was issued on December 26, 2018 establishing the National Framework for Gender and Social Inclusion in the energy sector. On May 21, 2019, the Gender Development Unit was installed at the Ministry of Energy.
For Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU, these institutional and operational actions demonstrate that her ministry is convinced of the added value of taking gender and social inclusion into account in the sector and is determined to go very far so that no one not be left out in access to energy in Benin. “The National Framework for Gender and Social Inclusion in the energy sector will lead in synergy with all other actors / trices concrete actions to highlight the consideration of gender concerns and social inclusion in the energy sector in Benin ”declared the Minister. He then hoped that the consultation framework would contribute effectively to improving access to energy for all, including the underprivileged groups, with a view to reducing gender inequality, etc.
After launching and operationalizing the National Framework for Gender and Social Inclusion in the energy sector, Minister Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU went to the Plateau department, more precisely to Illoulofin, in the municipality of Pobè , for the launch of the construction of a Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant in Benin with a capacity of 25 Megawatts. This project, which is part of the DEFISSOL project, is funded by the European Union, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the SBEE. The launch ceremony, chaired by the Minister of Energy, took place in the presence of the President of the National Assembly, Mr. Louis VLAVONOU, and the technical and financial partners.
According to the Project Coordinator, Mr. Ninon AHOUDJINOU, the 25 Megawatt Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant to be erected in Illoulofin will be built on a 96 ha estate belonging to the SBEE. It consists of a solar field made up of Photovoltaic panels using crystalline silicon technology. They will be framed and mounted on fixed structures with 6 transformer stations and a global underground network. The electrical architecture of the Plant will be based on “String” type inverters and the Plant will be connected to the CEB Post source of Onigbolo by a 20 KV medium voltage line with a length of 2.5 km. will also have at the Onigbolo station source, a 20 KV / 161 KV step-up transformer with a power of 50 MVA.
At a total cost of 12.7 billion FCFA, the construction work of this Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant will be carried out by the EIFFAGE RMT Consortium for a contractual period of 15 months. The EIFFAGE RMT Consortium, selected after an international call for tenders, will be responsible for the detailed design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Plant during the first three years of operation. From an environmental and social standpoint, the people affected by the project will be compensated. Livelihood restoration measures and the construction of community infrastructure are planned.
The Minister of Energy, Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU, informed the populations that this plant, as soon as it is built, will have a production cost of 34 FCFA / KWh. This cost turns out to be the lowest of all existing production sources in the territory, hence its great importance in our energy mix. He invited the company EIFFAGE RMT to do everything to meet the contractual deadline so that Benin can benefit from the first kWh taken out of the solar power plant in 2021.
Source: benin goverment
The presidency of Togo has announced that the project to exploit the manganese mine of Nayega, located in the Savanes region in the north of the country, is entering its operational phase. According to a statement issued on June 10, 2025, production is scheduled to start at the end of June 2025, with an initial volume of 4,000 tons per month, which should gradually double to reach 8,000 tons per month.
Keras Resources is the technical partner retained by the Togolese government to carry out this project. A statement from Keras, relayed by the presidency, details that the company signed a cooperation agreement in 2023 with the Togolese state, owner of the mine through the Togolese Manganese Company (STM). Under the terms of this agreement, Keras will receive a remuneration of 1.5% of the mine’s gross revenue for three years for its advisory services, as well as 6% for brokering services.
The reserves of the Nayega mine are estimated at 8.5 million tonnes, which would allow exploitation over a period of 11 years. The authorities of Lomé welcome the expected contribution of the mine to the national budget, a benefit that should be strengthened by the rigorous management of the generated revenues, as indicated by our colleagues from Agence Afrique.
With a growing global demand for manganese, particularly in steel alloys and renewable energy technologies, Togo is seeking to assert itself as an essential supplier of this strategic ore. This positioning could play a catalytic role for the national economy, always according to information from the Africa Agency.
Source: senego / Photo credit: Republicoftogo.com
The Gabonese government decided on Friday to ban the import of broilers in order to promote national poultry production and ensure food security, according to the final communiqué of the council of ministers chaired by the head of state, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
The ban will be effective from 1 January 2027, thus leaving a period of 18 months (1 year and 6 months) for actors in the sector to structure themselves, invest and prepare to meet national demand.
“This measure aims to restore domestic poultry production, boost agricultural investment, reduce food dependency and strengthen the trade balance,” the government hopes. Gabon also hopes to foster “the emergence of a network of rural jobs, the rise in quality of products consumed locally and the creation of an economic ecosystem around this sector”.
The government has also planned a detailed operational plan to be presented within 45 days by the ministers responsible for economy and trade.
Libreville dreams of reducing its dependence on poultry imports and strengthening the country’s food security. In addition, the promotion of local poultry farming should have a positive impact on rural areas, generating jobs and contributing to the development of a vibrant poultry ecosystem.
Imported frozen chicken is the most consumed food in Gabon because of its low price and packaging ready to be thrown into a pot.
“The star of the freezer” is how Gabonese people refer to frozen chicken because it is often the only food, if not the default food, found in the freezers of Gabonese families.
Frozen chicken and meat are generally imported from Latin America and Europe. Their massive presence on the market has destroyed local production.
The Council of Ministers also announced a ban on exporting crude manganese from 1 January 2029. The objective is to promote local industrial development, create jobs and maximize the value of this resource, of which Gabon is the world’s second largest producer.
Sources: gabonactu.com
Mauritania is in the spotlight. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Sidi Ould Tah was elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), at the annual meeting of the institution held in Abidjan. He succeeds Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, in office since 2015.
His election came after a hard-fought duel against Samuel Munzele Maimbo of Zambia, who finished in second place. The election, which was marked by major geopolitical and economic issues, took place against a background of high expectations regarding governance and development financing on the continent.
The Senegalese Amadou Hott, long perceived as one of the favorites, finishes in third place, followed by the South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala. Despite significant diplomatic support, notably for Hott, the momentum in favour of Sidi Ould Tah has prevailed in the last few rounds.
Former minister and general manager of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah is recognized for his experience and strategic vision. He will officially take office on 1 September 2025.
Photo credit: Forbes Africa
