AMEA Power announced the official groundbreaking of phase 3 of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Solar Power Plant in Togo, which was held in the presence of President Faure Gnassingbé. The expansion of the project in Togo is expected to be completed by the end 2023, making the solar plant the largest of its kind in West Africa.
Located in the village of Blitta, the solar plant will be extended from 50MW to 70MW and will include a Battery Energy Storage System to prolong the availability of clean energy to the electricity network at night. The project will power more than 222,000 households and is supporting Togo’s National Development Plan, which has set out a goal to provide universal access to electricity across the country by 2030.
Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, said: “The solar plant is providing a project blueprint that AMEA Power is using to deploy renewable energy across other parts of Africa. With the integration of battery storage, the plant can extend its power production to provide Togolese communities with clean energy at night.
“This project would not be possible without the ongoing support of the Togolese government, which continue to demonstrate their commitment to renewable energy and delivering energy access to the people of Togo.”
Phases 1 and 2 of the project were fully developed by AMEA Power during the Covid-19 pandemic, and took less than 18 months to complete from their initial inception. Both project phases became fully operational in June 2021, with AMEA Technical Services currently responsible for the operations and maintenance of the solar plant.
To finance the development of the third phase of the project, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) has provided the Togolese Ministry of Economy and Finance with a loan of $25 million. The project will be constructed by AMEA Technical Services, a subsidiary of AMEA Power. ADEX also participated in the financing of the construction of the project’s second phase, with an envelope of US$10 million of debt.
To support the economic and social development of Togo, AMEA Power’s investment in the region has also involved a range of initiatives to support the local community. These initiatives have comprised of the construction and renovation of primary schools, and the construction of a medical clinic with maternity support facilities. AMEA Power has also established an internship program for engineering students from various technical institutions across Togo to gain practical experience at the solar plant.