AfDB backs 50-MW solar project in Burkina Faso

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced it will provide financing for the construction of solar plants in Burkina Faso.

The solar plants will be funded jointly with the French development agency (AFD).

The President of the AfDB Group, Akinwumi Adesina, arrived in Ouagadougou for a three-day official visit and was welcomed by Burkina Faso's Head of State, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. During the meeting President Kaboré praised the excellent bilateral cooperation between his country and the AfDB and called for it to be boosted.

Burkina Faso and the AfDB have a strong relationship of cooperation, particularly in the energy sector, where electrification projects are planned for 2017-2021.

The AfDB Group will provide support for the electrification of schools and health facilities and the installation of solar pumps in rural areas. It will also take part in the installation of solar street lamps in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso and the Dorsal electrification project that will connect Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali.

President Kaboré stated:

"We are hoping that the support of the African Development Bank will have a great impact. We want to work more closely with you so that together we can enable the greatest number of people in Burkina Faso to have access to electricity."