UK commits CFA40bn to expand rural energy access in Togo

Energy

Monday, 24 November 2025 02:18

UK commits CFA40bn to expand rural energy access in Togo

UK to provide €62 million for rural electrification across 312 communities
Project to build 1,300 km of medium-voltage lines and 882 km of low-voltage lines
Support aligns with Togo’s target of universal electricity access by 2030

Togo will receive financial support of 62 million € — about CFA40 billion — from the United Kingdom. A financing agreement was signed late last week in Lomé on the sidelines of the fourth edition of the UK–West and Central Francophone Africa Forum (UK-WCAF IV).

The support will enable the electrification of 312 rural localities and directly benefit nearly 250,000 people, whose living conditions should improve through access to electricity for economic and social activities. The project includes the construction of 1,300 km of medium-voltage lines, 882 km of low-voltage lines, and 312 transformer stations.

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— Ministère des Mines et des Ressources Énergétiques (@mineenergie_tg) November 15, 2025

The signing of this agreement, one of the first concrete outcomes of UK-WCAF IV, comes as the country multiplies initiatives to achieve universal electricity access by 2030. Programs already implemented with partner support helped Togo reach an access rate of 70% at the end of 2024.

In the same effort to improve energy access, especially in rural areas, Lomé and Beijing concluded an agreement in early November for the supply of solar kits under the Africa Solar Belt project, an initiative aimed at supporting the energy transition and the fight against climate change. The donation of 3,900 photovoltaic kits will meet the energy needs of more than 20,000 Togolese living in localities not yet connected to the national grid.

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.