The World Bank just granted Benin a loan of $60 million (FCFA34.6 billion) to improve its power performances. The loan was provided under a development aid fund put in place the international development association (IDA), an arm of the institution, which gives loans to the poorest nations at a very low rates or none.

The present loan will help boost the performances of the national power utility, Société Beninoise de l’Energie Electrique (SBEE). The latter will actually improve its operational performances while reducing technical and commercial losses, and developing a roadmap for a progressive and sustainable growth of the sector as well as maintain a good pace in the biomass subsector.

Part of the money will be used to boost access to power in suburban areas of Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Parakou and Natitingou. SBEE’s customers living in these areas will therefore see supply hours prolonged and benefit from a better voltage.

Finally, populations of Bassila, Bantè and Djidja will benefit from a forest management project covering 300,000 hectares, while those in Djougou, Ndali and Pérèrè will develop new green spaces over 150,000 hectares. All these aim to help locals get revenues from their forest resources without destroying them.

Gwladys Johnson