Inauguration of a Solar Mini-Grid Project in Niger

The Ministry of Energy, has officially received from Plan International Niger on June 28, 2018, a 27.5 KWC Solar mini-grid for the village of Gorou 1. This Renewable Energy Promotion Project is supported by the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in collaboration with Plan International Spain. This project has impacted directly about 4412 people from the aforementioned village, enabling them to have access to modern energy services. This is the first initiative of this kind in Niger and it is aligned with ECREEE´s objective to provide clean, affordable and sustainable energy services for the inhabitants of the ECOWAS region.

At the inauguration, the Country Director of Plan International Niger Mr. Johnson Bien Aimé, stressed that the project has contributed to improve the public supply of energy services applied to rural lighting and endorsing income-generating activities for women and girls. He further noticed that classroom lighting and its impact on the quality of education, as well as in the public health sector, will have a great impact on inhabitants of the village, as for instance, they will have access to vaccines in the community, without having to travel long distances for the service. The symbolic handshakes between the Country Director of Plan International Niger, the Representative of Energy Ministry and the Governor of Tillaberi Region marks the last stage of the official handover ceremony of the solar mini-grid equipment at Gorou village.

By June 2018, the costs generated by the energy exploitation locally, already exceeded the mark of one million (1,000,000) Francs CFA. This fact has stimulated a sustainable socio-economic dynamic around Gorou village area, where women and girls are both initiators and managers of small businesses.

The success of this initiative, inspired Plan International Niger to replicate this project in different communities, where the population lacks on access to clean, affordable and sustainable access to energy services.