Renewable energy producer Windiga Energy has reached an agreement on a 20MW solar photovoltaic plant in Burkina Faso.
The company has signed an investment support agreement with the Burkina Faso government, which will permit Windiga to finalize a 25-year power purchase agreement with the National Electricity Company of Burkina (SONABEL).
Siemens Energy Smart Generation Solutions has been selected to build and operate the $50m PV plant, which will be located in Zina, in the Mouhoun province.
The facility is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2015 and will be the largest photovoltaic power station in sub-Saharan Africa, said Windiga.
Potential financiers for the project include the African Development Bank, the Frontier Markets Fund Managers and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, said Windiga.
“We are very pleased with the support that we received from both the governments of Burkina Faso and Canada allowing us to conclude this strategic agreement that will bring about the construction of a major renewable energy project and the launch of the solar energy industry in Burkina Faso,” said Windiga president and CEO Benoit La Salle.
“This power plant will also contribute to the economic development of the region, employing about 150 Burkinabé workers during the construction phase.”