Grants of US$1 Million to Promote Green Mini-Grids in Niger
In July 2016, the Republic of Niger was awarded a US$994,270 grant from the African Development Bank-hosted Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to promote green mini-grids (GMGs) and pave the way for private investments in this sub-sector. The project aims to support government efforts to provide at least 15% rural access to energy through off-grid and mini-grid solutions by 2020, resulting in increased effective day length and income, and a reduction in recurring energy expenditures; and 15 MW installed GMG capacity by 2020, resulting in mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The program is also expected to contribute to at least $10 million in funding raised for renewable energy (RE) projects by 2018, resulting in the creation of renewable energy-sector jobs. Further, it will contribute to achieve the energy targets set by the national reference program for energy access (known by the French acronym “PRASE” and adopted in 2010), which aims to connect at least 40% of rural households to at least one modern energy service by 2018.
Frank van der Vleuten