Benin/Sustainable access to electrical energy: Benin gives a boost to the process of strengthening its energy capacities

The Minister of Energy, Mr. Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU presided, this Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Sème-Podji, the official launching ceremony of the Benin Sustainable and Secure Access to Electrical Energy Project (PADSBEE).

Initiated by the Government of Benin as part of the implementation of its energy independence policy, the PADSBEE aims to develop sustainable access to quality electricity for domestic, commercial and industrial uses in compliance with environmental and social safety standards with a national rate of 75% by 2025, of which 50% in rural areas and 90% in urban areas, and a good performance of the voltage plan at all nodes by 2025.

The PADSBEE, with an overall budget of 200 billion CFA francs, has been entrusted to the VINCI Energies group for a period of three (03) years and covers eight (08) departments.It covers eight (8) departments: Atlantic, Littoral, Ouémé, Plateau, Mono, Couffo, Zou and Collines. Thus, the VINCI component of this project will allow the densification and intensification of Benin's electricity network through the construction of several appropriate infrastructures. These are as follows

- The construction of 300 km of high voltage underground line in Tanzoun, Sème-Podji, Glo-Djigbé, Gakpé, Avakpa, Bohicon, Hagoumè, Ouèdo, Maria-Gléta, Dassa, Savè;

- The realization of nine (09) very high voltage transformer stations in Glo-Djigbé, Comè, Ouèdo, SèmèPodji, Gakpé, Savè, Athiémé, Avakpa and Dassa;

- The extension of the capacities of four (04) high voltage substations. These are two 161/63/20kv substations in Tanzoun and Bohicon and two 161/63 kV substations in Avakpa and Maria-Gléta;

- The construction of 1,000 km of medium and low voltage distribution networks;

- The connection of several thousand households.

All these works will generate 900 new jobs revealed the General Manager of VINCI Energies, Mr. Abderrahim GHERDA who took the opportunity to express the commitment of his company to the project.He took the opportunity to express the commitment of his group to train 300 young technicians for the transfer of skills on the one hand and on the other hand, to build infrastructure according to international standards.

During this solemn ceremony, the political and administrative authorities present, including the Prefects, the Honourable Members of Parliament and the Mayors of Sèmè-Podji, Jonas GBENAMETO,of Porto-Novo, Charlemagne YANKOTY and that of Avrankou all greeted, on behalf of the beneficiary populations, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Patrice TALON, for this gigantic program and reassured of their total commitment and support for its success because the PADSBEE is a large-scale project that will fill the gap in electrical energy that has been missing for the development of the economic zone of Sèmè.conomic area of Sèmè-Podji in particular and for the industrialization of our country in general, added the Minister of Industry and Trade, Mrs. Shadiya Alimatou ASSOUMAN.

In his launching speech, the Minister of Energy Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU, while giving an overview of the unparalleled achievements realized by the Government since 2016 in the energy field, lifted a corner of the veil on the scope of the PADSBEE at the end of its implementation. In the distribution of electrical energy, "the PADSBEE project for which we are here, will bring the electrical network from 1800 to 2200km. It is extraordinary" he said. The PADSBEE Project, 200 billion, he continued, for the three years, is more than all the investments of the Electric Community of Benin (CEB) since its creation in 1968, for Benin and Togo for 53 years. This shows how vast this project is and translates the level of commitment without common measure of the Government of President Patrice TALON.

Finally, the Minister reiterated the commitment of the Government of Benin to continue its efforts to restore and restructure the electrical network for the happiness of the populations.

At this launching ceremony, we also note the presence of the Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development, representing the Minister José TONATO, of a parterre of political-administrative personalities namely: Prefects of the departments of Mono, Atlantic and Ouémé, Mayors of Sèmè-Podji, Porto-Novo and Avrankou, Honourable Members of Parliament, the Ambassador of Morocco and Technical and Financial Partners.

Source: www.gouv.bj/