Africa Surveyors September- October Digital issue 2021

ENERGY
Africa Ren launches the construction of
the Kodeni Solar plant in Bukina Faso
Africa Ren, the French company is launching
the construction of the Kodeni Solar
photovoltaic power plant in Burkina Faso. The
plant, which will come on stream in 2022, will have a
capacity of 38 MWp.
Africa Ren closes financing for a solar photovoltaic
project in Burkina Faso. The Paris, France-based
Company is also starting construction of the solar
power plant at a site near Bobo-Dioulasso in the west
of the country. As part of its project, Africa Ren has
set up the company Kodeni Solar, which has signed a
public-private partnership (PPP) with the Burkinabe
authorities.
Wholly owned by Africa Ren, Kodeni Solar has raised
the necessary financing for the construction of its
plant from the Netherlands Development Finance
Company (FMO), and it’s Access to Energy Fund
(AEF) provided by the Dutch government. Kodeni
Solar is also supported by the Interact Climate
Change Facility (ICCF), a joint facility of European
development institutions that provided longterm
debt. The development phase of the project
was co-financed by the Seed Capital Assistance
Facility (SCAF), an initiative of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
Commissioning in 2022
Kodeni Solar has entrusted the construction of its
solar power plant to Ineo by Equans. The subsidiary
of the French group Engie will build a solar power
plant with a capacity of 38 MWp. The solar power
plant is expected to go into commercial operation in
2022. The plant will be one of the largest in Burkina
Faso, with a capacity greater than that of Nagréongo
(34 MWp), currently being built by the French
independent power producer (IPP) GreenYellow, a
subsidiary of the Casino Group.
For Bachir Ismaël Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso’s Minister
of Energy, the Kodeni Solar project is “essential for
the energy autonomy of Burkina Faso. Solar energy is
the cheapest and most abundant source of electricity
for the country. Kodeni Solar also demonstrates
that the government’s framework for encouraging
PPPs is beginning to pay off. More than 500 MW of
capacity will be added before 2025 at an extremely
competitive price, to the benefit of the Burkinabe
population and businesses.
An investment that will lead to others
The Kodeni Solar plant will employ 150 people
during its construction phase and another 35 during
its operation. The facility will be able to produce
73,000 MWh of electricity per year, which will be fed
into the grid of the Société nationale d’électricité
du Burkina Faso (SONABEL). The state-owned utility
already has a 25-year power purchase agreement
(PPA) with Kodeni Solar. Africa Ren estimates that its
plant, which will come on line in August 2022, will
be able to power 115,000 Burkinabe households
while avoiding the emission of 41,000 tons of CO2
equivalent each year.
Its CEO Gilles Parmentier does not rule out investing
in another clean energy project in Burkina Faso. Africa
Ren could then benefit from the support of Africa
Ren Energy. This newly formed investment holding
company is intended to support Africa Ren’s projects,
as well as the operational entities of the Africa Ren
group. The platform is co-funded by FMO and Metier
Sustainable Capital, a private equity fund focused
on clean infrastructure investments across Africa,
managed by Metier.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
Semptember-October issue l 2021 35