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Burkina Faso launches construction of solar power station

Xinhua, June 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Burkina Faso government on Thursday launched the construction of a solar power station with capacity to produce 33 megawatts, and which is considered as the largest in the Sahel region.

Energy Minister Alpha Oumar Dissa said the solar power station that is situated in Zagtouli region on the periphery of the capital Ouagadougou, opens the door for the development of renewable energy which was one of the commitments made during the recent Climate Change Summit in Paris.

The total cost of the construction which will require 129,600 solar panels, is estimated to be 47.5 million euros, the government said, while also noting that the construction work will take two years.

The project will inject solar energy in the national grid and also reduce the cost of energy, the official said.

For several months, Burkina Faso has been facing a deficit of electricity production. Power black outs have become recurrent and almost half of the capital Ouagadougou is always kept in darkness for several hours everyday.

Due to this situation, the government has encouraged the population to invest in solar energy since the country has abundant sunlight. Endit