Togo Explains Recurring Power Outages, Unveils Plan to Strengthen Electricity Supply

Energy

Monday, 29 June 2026 09:59

Togo Explains Recurring Power Outages, Unveils Plan to Strengthen Electricity Supply

(Togo First) - The Togolese government says reduced electricity imports from Ghana and Nigeria are behind the power outages that have disrupted the country in recent months. Addressing lawmakers in parliament on Friday, June 26, 2026, Minister Delegate for Energy and Mineral Resources Robert Eklo outlined the causes of the disruptions and the measures planned to strengthen the country's electricity supply over the long term.

According to the minister, the outages are mainly due to a sharp decline in electricity imports from Ghana and Nigeria, Togo's two main suppliers. While national demand reaches nearly 360 megawatts during peak hours, domestic generation capacity covers only about 180 megawatts.

At the same time, imported electricity volumes have fallen significantly. Supplies from Ghana, which normally amount to about 110 megawatts, have, at times, dropped to 20 megawatts, while imports from Nigeria have declined from 115 megawatts to around 70 megawatts. The reduced imports have left the country with a significant supply gap, resulting in power cuts across the national grid.

Eklo also said that recent periods of extreme heat have pushed up electricity consumption, particularly during the evening, placing additional strain on the system.

Emergency Measures

To lessen the impact of the situation, the government has launched several emergency measures. One 20-megawatt generating unit has been in operation since 2025, and a second unit with the same capacity is expected to come online soon, the minister said.

At the same time, the authorities are continuing discussions with regional electricity and gas suppliers to strengthen Togo’s energy supply. The government is also advancing renewable energy projects with the planned commissioning of the Dapaong solar power plant, which will have a capacity of 25 megawatt peak and a 40-megawatt-hour battery storage system.

A Long-Term Investment Program

Beyond the emergency response, the government is pursuing a broad energy investment program. The plan includes the construction of a 120-megawatt thermal power plant in Lomé, the development of the Sokodé (60 MWp) and Awandjélo (42 MWp) solar power plants, and the expansion of the Blitta solar plant.

The authorities also plan to install large-scale battery storage systems at strategic points across the electricity network and modernize power transmission and distribution infrastructure. Once the projects underway are completed, Togo’s total solar capacity is expected to reach nearly 400 megawatt peak.

The debate concluded with National Assembly President Komi Selom Klassou calling on the government to accelerate reforms aimed at ensuring reliable access to electricity, describing it as essential to improving economic competitiveness and living standards.

Esaïe Edoh

REFORMS OVERVIEW

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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 .

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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)

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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.

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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.