In Togo, at least 10,000 inhabitants of rural localities will benefit from electricity, via a new decentralized energy supply mechanism. The government and the German International Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) signed a grant agreement a few days ago to this effect.
The agreement, initialed by the Minister Delegate for Energy, Mila Aziable and the German Ambassador, Matthias Veltin, concerns the Energy Autonomous Villages Initiative (IVAE). This project, funded to the tune of 540 million FCFA (825,000 euros), is one of the components of the ‘ProEnergie’ project, carried out by the government as part of the national electrification strategy.
Concretely, it will make it possible to set up mini-grid systems in certain localities identified a few months earlier.
This initiative is in addition to those already deployed (Cizo), in order to reduce the gap that still exists in terms of access to energy in rural areas. A few weeks ago, the government created a fund to facilitate and accelerate universal access to electricity.
Support from Germany through GIZ
Acting on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ supports and advises the Togolese Ministry of Mines and Energy as well as other local, national and international actors in promoting a sustainable and climate-friendly basic energy supply. It supports capacity building of the energy agency and provides advice on internal organizational processes.
In order to improve the regulatory framework, GIZ designs, in consultation with partner organizations, the basic regulations for a decentralized supply of renewable energies.
The project also supports the experimentation of economic models allowing the electrification and supply of the countryside with wood energy.
Togo’s commitment
The carefully defined ambition of the Togolese government aims for universal access to electricity for all Togolese by 2030, with an access rate of 100% over the next ten years. This goal will be achieved through a combination of conventional grid extension and off-grid technologies (mini-grids and solar kits).
However, the country is undergoing a political crisis which has a strong impact on the energy sector. In general, the energy sector suffers from unfavorable framework conditions for decentralized energy supply.
The Togolese Agency for Rural Electrification and Renewable Energies (AT2ER), created in 2016, lacks the equipment, knowledge and personnel to accomplish its missions. There is also a lack of regulation for renewable energy and the operation of off-grid installations, such as solar home installations or small decentralized energy supply networks (mini-grids). Only a few companies are involved in decentralized energy supply.
The west African country gradually improving the conditions for a decentralized and climate-friendly basic energy supply. People living in rural areas, as well as women and young adults, are the main beneficiaries of improved decentralized energy supply through renewable energy sources.
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