Benin/ Launch of the off-grid electrification project in Savalou

The prefect of the Collines department proceeded, this Tuesday, to the official launching of an off-grid electrification project (EHR), financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, for the benefit of the communes of Bantè and Savalou, through a public consultation, in the presence of the president of the Electricity Regulation Authority (ARE), the mayors of Bantè and Savalou as well as the beneficiaries.

According to the president of the electricity regulatory authority (ARE), Claude G. Gbaguidi, "the villages of Djagballo (Bantè), Konkondji, Djallouma, Dodomè, Aglamidjodji, Attakplakanmè, Azokangoudo (Savalou) are concerned by the project. He added that the AER has seen fit to submit the conditions proposed by the private electricity supplier, Mionwa, to the beneficiaries and to collect their contributions before the project is implemented.The AER has seen fit to submit the conditions proposed by the private electricity provider, Mionwa, to the beneficiaries and to collect their contributions before authorizing the signing of the partnership with the Beninese Agency for Rural Electrification and Energy Management (ABERME).

Among other proposals made by Mionwa, the specialists indicated that, for subscribers who make light use (mobile phone charging and lighting) of energy, they should be able to use it in a more efficient way.Among other proposals made by Mionwa, the specialists indicated that for subscribers who make light use (mobile phone charging and lighting) of energy, the subscription fee is 5000f, for other categories, the fee is 10.000f and the public lighting will be at the expense of the project and not of the town hall. According to the expert Erick Houngninou, the company plans to provide electricity with the sun during the day and with a storage battery reinforced if necessary by a generator at night. "The project, with an overall cost of 18 billion for forty villages, will install smart meters for those who will subscribe. Its implementation will last a year and a half at most for a period of twenty years," according to Claude Gbaguidi.

For the mayors of Bantè and Savalou, "the project is judicious, it will offer an additional opportunity for development to the beneficiary villages".

The prefect of Collines invited the people to "note that under the government of President Patrice Talon, the energy sector is in a phase of tangible recovery". For Dr. Saliou Odoubou, "this project which will increase the rate of access to electricity for the majority currently unserved" is, without doubt, "additional evidence of the consideration of the needs of the population.The beneficiaries said "the proposed conditions of access to electricity for the majority of the population, which is currently unserved" is, without a doubt, "additional evidence of the consideration of the needs of the population in terms of electrification", he said before committing himself, as supervisor of government projects and programs in the department, to ensure its successful completion.

The beneficiaries declared "the conditions proposed by the private supplier Mionwa, in accordance with their expectations" and"are committed to a frank collaboration with the company so that the electrification of the beneficiary villages is accelerated".

Source: www.agencebeninpresse.info