Solar Power to Spur Economic Growth in West Africa

Published on 20th May 2013

Solar power thermal plant in North Africa
Communities in West Africa find it difficult accessing uninterrupted power supply, making life amongst  the  urban poor very difficult and unbearable. As a solution to this, rural villages in Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal have embraced solar energy for alternative means of electricity supply.

Over 80 rural communities in Senegal use solar energy, while in Mali, 150 communities use solar power. Going by the revelation of the solar producers stationed in Senegal, Sustainable Power Electric Company (SPEC), solar panels appear to provide a prospective answer for electrification in remote villages.

In Kayes town, a community located in the west of Mali, many families have embraced solar power as an alternative means for power generation despite the fact that the community is connected to conventional electricity. To them, solar is affordable and does not damage their electrical appliances as conventional electricity does. One of the community members, Khalidou Soumaré, has used solar power in his home for over 10 years. Herdsmen in the communities believe that solar lighting will minimize the theft of their livestock as well as enable them power their TV sets to catch up with current affairs.

The government of Senegal gives support to this initiative by subsidizing the purchase and installation of solar panels for many rural villages in Senegal. In complementing the effort of the government, community dwellers contribute 50,000 CFA per household (100 USD) to purchase and install solar power.

Even as communities across West Africa have difficulties having access to stable power supply, there are few nongovernmental organizations charged with the responsibilities of making sure that rural dwellers have stable power supply.

The Monaco Red Cross installed a small solar power plant in Kayes community, enabling the recharging of four hundred lanterns that belong to respective homes. Community members are able to recharge their lanterns at the central point for a monthly subscription fee of 700 CFA (1.45 USD). The money generated through this process is used to mainten the solar power plant.

In Boulsa, a community in the Koupèla commune in southern Burkina Faso, a non-governmental organization known as Soleil et Développement (Sun and Development) assisted one hundred and two women to install solar panels in their respective homes in 2009.

Across West Africa’s cities and remote villages, access to stable power supply has been a major challenge. Reports from Nigeria indicate that the Kaduna Textile Industry closed down as a result of inadequate electricity supply, while Dunlop Tyre left the country due to the challenge of electricity supply. Cottage factories cannot spring up; small scale businesses are unable to grow, mechanized farming has become impossible, as a result of lack of electricity supply.

The future of West Africa lies in its industrialization, which cannot take place without adequate power supply. Power supply initiatives will play a major role in the development of the region, particularly as it will provide lights to rural communities, taking pressure off the grid power and making living a bit comfortable for rural dwellers. This is likely to create jobs for rural communities, therefore reducing the rapid rural-urban migration. It will also give rise to cottage industries and factories, making jobs available to city youths.

Power supply initiatives ought to be supported and sustained across West Africa for the region to reduce the level of poverty and unemployment.

By Audu Liberty Oseni


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