In the Northern region of Burkina Faso, 40,000 households now have access to electricity in the form of solar energy. This results from the MICRESOL (Microcrédit solaire et changement d’échelle) program which was being implemented in Burkina Faso since 2011 to 2016.

“The planning program aimed to electrify ten communities however we now powered 41 communities and around forty thousands households have been given light,” said Yves Maigne, CEO of Ngo FONDEM, which took part in the program.

The project cost FCFA1.31 billion (around $2.5 million) of which 75% was provided by the European Union as a subsidy.

Burkina Faso’s electrification rate is around 20% for a demand of 220 MW and production capacity of 177 MW. The country aims to increase its electrification rate to 70% by 2025.

Gwladys Johnson