Ouagadougou: Independent power production in the Sahel region received a significant boost as key strategic documents were approved at the fifth ministerial meeting of the Desert to Power project. The initiative, led by the African Development Bank, aims to transform the Sahel into a renewable energy powerhouse.

According to African Press Organization, the meeting was instrumental in assessing the progress of the Desert to Power Initiative and approving two 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 with the Desert to Power Taskforce and the African Legal Support Facility, establishes standardized principles for developing large-scale solar power plants through public-private partnerships. The mini-grid strategy aims to create a framework to accelerate implementation and encourage participation.

A technical workshop on financial modeling was also held to enhance financial analysis tools for the viability of Sahelian national utilities. General managers and financial directors of national utilities actively participated in the meeting.

Gouba expressed gratitude to the African Development Bank for its support, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to achieve the set objectives. Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Electricity, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, congratulated the ministers, highlighting the IPP Joint Protocol as a significant step toward accelerating privately financed solar projects in the region.

Kariuki also urged countries to leverage 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. He emphasized the importance of coordinated action and political leadership to ensure no country is left behind.

Participants had the opportunity to visit the Gonsin photovoltaic power plant in Burkina Faso, showcasing the tangible impact of the Desert to Power Initiative. The 42 MWp plant, featuring a 10-megawatt storage system, exemplifies the progress made under the initiative.