$22.5M more for Off-Grid Electricity Access Project
Friday, 12 March 2021 18:01 
(Togo First) - The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEP) will benefit from an additional $22.5 million (CFA12.3 billion). The facility was approved on March 11, 2021, by the World Bank.
These resources allocated in the form of grants from the International Development Association (IDA) and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) aim to support the development of the market for stand-alone solar systems in West and Central Africa, particularly in the Sahel countries. This facility complements the first round of financing of CFA150 billion approved in April 2019 by the Washington-based institution through its branch dedicated to developing countries and $67.2 million made available by the CTF.
In total, 19 countries, including Togo, are covered by the project. "It will support activities to accelerate the deployment of stand-alone solar systems in a region where 50% of the population has no access to electricity, and less than 3% of its inhabitants use this type of innovative technology," says the World Bank.
The project reinforces the momentum to develop a regional off-grid market, through the harmonization of policies, standards, and trade procedures.
According to the World Bank, the initiative will also support energy companies, that promote off-grid, with acceleration programs and provide aid and loans for the deployment of off-grid solar home installations.
Regarding Togo, the report of a study published in 2019 by ROGEP showed that the country had a potential market for the Off-Grid estimated at 500,000 households subdivided into 3 categories: households, productive systems (mills, drinking water supply), and public services (schools, health centers).
In addition to the ROGEP, several private operators, including Bboxx, Soleva, and Fénix, have joined the CIZO initiative, a flagship program for rural electrification using individual solar kits in Togo.
Séna Akoda
