(Togo First) - The Nangbeto hydroelectric dam, which supplies electricity to Togo and Benin, was officially inaugurated last week following a full rehabilitation costing 25.5 billion CFA francs (39 million euros).
The ceremony was attended by Togo’s junior energy minister, Robert Eklo, and the director-general of the Benin Electricity Community (CEB), Kamirou Chabi Sika.
The rehabilitation, which began in 2019, was financed by Germany through development bank KfW. It included the design, supply, installation and commissioning of upgraded and new equipment, notably turbines, alternators, power transformers, spillway gates, the tailrace and the spillway.
Mechanical and electrical installations were also modernized, along with high-voltage protection systems, lifting equipment, control systems and water treatment and drinking water facilities.
Officials said the upgrade would strengthen the reliability of electricity supply in both countries.
“The rehabilitation of Nangbeto marks a major step in securing our shared energy production,” Sika said, adding that the upgraded facility would improve performance, resilience and availability to meet rising demand.
Eklo described the dam as a symbol of bilateral cooperation and a key driver of energy stability. “This rehabilitation strengthens our national capacity and supports our ambition of universal access to electricity,” he said.
With an installed capacity of 65 megawatts, Nangbeto has been one of the main hydroelectric plants supplying Togo and Benin for nearly four decades. The rehabilitation comes as Togo pursues several initiatives aimed at achieving universal electricity access by 2030.
Esaïe Edoh