GABON – The Gabonese State, through the ministry in charge of investment promotion, has signed a contract with the Turkish company Desiba Energy for the construction of a solar power plant with a capacity of 20 MW.
Desiba intends to invest 27 million euros (US$31.83m) in the construction of its solar photovoltaic power plant.
The Turkish company Desiba Energy has received the green light from the Gabonese government and now it has the necessary permits for the installation of its solar power plant in Mouila, in the province of Ngounié in Gabon.
Desiba is well advanced in the development of its project. The company will build its solar power plant in 12 months. This green electricity will allow Gabon to diversify its electricity mix.
According to the US government’s Energy Information Agency (EIA), Gabon’s installed capacity was 750 MW in 2018. Thermal power from fossil fuels accounts for 56%, or 418 MW. Hydroelectricity accounts for 44% of total capacity. Biomass and solar share the remaining 2.2 MW.
Desiba had signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Société d’énergie et d’eau du Gabon (SEEG) in February 2021. The state-owned company will buy the kWh of electricity at 95 CFA francs (US$103.72m).
At the signing of the investment framework agreement, Carmen Ndaot, the Gabonese Minister for Investment Promotion, recalled that the implementation of the solar energy project was part of the Transformation Acceleration Plan (PAT).
Through this plan, the government wants to increase Gabon’s installed capacity by 250 MW by 2025. Libreville will focus on renewable energies, particularly solar photovoltaic.
A few weeks ago, Total Eren, an independent power producer (IPP) 30% owned by the French oil company Total Energies, signed a preliminary agreement with the Gabonese Ministry of Energy and Water. IPP wants to equip Gabon with a 50 MWp solar photovoltaic power plant near the capital Libreville.
