Proparco has granted a €1.5 million loan to ZIZ Energie, a construction company specializing in rural and urban electrification. The funding will enable ZIZ Energie to launch a decentralized energy infrastructure project to develop, build and operate mini-energy grids in the Chad’s secondary towns.
Nowadays, in Chad, the electrification rate is very low (6% compared to 48% on average in sub-Saharan Africa) and the power grid is concentrated around N’Djamena city. Therefore, energy decentralization constitutes a major challenge for the country.
ZIZ Energie has been developing mini-grids in Chad, from financing to operational implementation, for more than 15 years. In the current local context in which the power generation network is centralized, ZIZ Energie provides an accessible and clean solution to the towns where the company is established: through the use of reliable renewable energy, ZIZ Energie helps to reduce the use of polluting diesel generators that supply households, public administrations and SMEs.
Thus, the project will generate significant impacts, in particular by improving the lives of nearly 500,000 people in the country, thanks to greater access to electricity (from 10 hours/day to 20 hours/day) without price fluctuation.
Mehdi Tanani, Regional Director – Central Africa stated: “Proparco is proud to support a key player in the energy sector. In Chad, the energy decentralization is a major issue and ZIZ Energie, with its expertise and commitment, will improve the daily lives of thousands of people.”
The project will contribute to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 7 (Clean and Affordable Energy), SDG 9 (Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).