GIZ Finances Togo for Solar Mini-Grids in Rural Areas

The German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ), a German development agency, is investing 540 million CFA francs (nearly $934,000) to help Togo make power accessible in its rural areas. The financing facility will provide electrification for at least 10,000 people in the rural communities of the country.

Togo and Germany concluded the deal a few days ago, in the presence of Mila Aziable, Minister Delegate to the President of the Republic, in charge of Energy and Mines, Matthias Veltin, the German Ambassador to Togo, and the Country Director of GIZ in Togo, Markus Wagner.

According to Mila Aziable, the agreement with GIZ is part of the “Energy Self-Sufficient Villages Initiative” (ESVI). It is implemented by the ProEnergie (“Rural Electrification in Togo”) project designed for supplying sustainable energy, in relation to the national electrification strategy. The electrification project launched in the West African country will allow the establishment of solar mini-grids in several rural areas.

Within the framework of the project, GIZ has collaborated with a Togolese NGO, Mivo, for setting up local infrastructure to produce and sell decentralized energy systems.

The Togolese Agency for Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy (AT2ER) has the ambition to develop Togo’s renewable energy potential by producing 50% renewables in the energy mix by 2023. Also, the Government of Togo has set the goal to increase the rate of electricity access at the national level to 75% by 2025 and to 100% by 2030. The funding by GIZ is in line with the country’s plan in improving electricity access and increasing renewables in the energy mix.

Last year, a call for expressions of interest was issued for the construction of two solar PV plants near Awandjélo in the Kara region and in Sokodé in the Central region. The government is also focusing on the CIZO Project, Togo’s rural electrification program (PRAVOST) which aims to provide solar off-grid solutions to improve electricity access for households, community infrastructure, and small-scale farms.