Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso – In a significant move to enhance its energy infrastructure, Burkina Faso has inaugurated two new solar power plants in the western part of the country. These plants are set to increase the nation’s renewable energy capacity and provide electricity to thousands of households.

According to Africa News Agency, Mines and Quarries, the first photovoltaic plant, located in Bobo-Dioulasso, boasts a production capacity of 38 megawatt-peak (MWp). This facility is expected to contribute an average of 73 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year to the national interconnected grid, powering approximately 42,000 households. The second plant, situated in the Boucle du Mouhoun region, has a 30 MWp capacity and is projected to inject about 54.15 GWh annually into the grid, connecting around 31,000 households. The inauguration of these plants aligns with Burkina Faso’s efforts to improve its national electrification rate, which stood at 25.24% in 2022, showing a significant increase from the previous year, especially in urban and rural areas.