Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso electrification project in Burkina Faso is reportedly more than halfway complete.
So far 178km of underground medium-voltage and 177km of overhead medium-voltage networks have been installed. In addition, 153 kiosks medium voltage/low voltage substations, and 191 overhead medium voltage/low voltage pole-mounted transformer substations have been built. Similarly, 18 medium voltage/low voltage substations have been built and another 87 kiosk medium and low-voltage substations have been repaired.
The electricity network recorded an increase in subscribers in Ouagadougou, from 270,306 to 287,296 as of 31 March 2022, an increase of 24,765 customers. The subscribers base in Bobo-Dioulasso, on the other hand, increased by 7,684 customers, from 91,392 to 97,672.
The Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso electrification project has thus resulted in more than 30,000 new electricity connections in the country.
Funding for the Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso electrification project
Since 2017, the African Development Bank has financed the Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso electrification project. The bank supported the project through its concessional window, the African Development Fund (ADF).
Reportedly, the African Development Bank supplied the majority of the funding (72%) for the US$ 52.15M electricity connections project. The Burkinabe government on the other hand donated the final 13%. An additional 15% caome from the National Electricity Corporation of Burkina Faso.
According to an ADB’s implementation and results report, the Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso electrification project has already surpassed its 17,500 connection target. Furthermore, it is far ahead of the projected connection date of the end of 2023.
According to the ADB report, “The performance of the new electricity connections is assessed to be highly satisfactory. Additionally, all objectives have been completed or will be met by its projected completion date in December 2023. Public lighting will be built in electrified areas using the remaining funds set aside for competitive bidding.”
In conclusion, the initiative has already created 200 jobs out of the 350 expected to be created overall.
