Improved access to education and healthcare in Togo thanks to Emirati-funded solar plant
Thousands of people in a remote region of Togo have experienced a change in their lives thanks to a solar energy project funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has provided them with electricity, education and medical care.
Electricity in the town of Blitta was inconsistent at best before construction began in early 2020. In Togo, only 60% of the population had consistent electricity service. Blitta's citizens found themselves in the most unfavourable situations, with children crammed into cramped classrooms relying on candlelight when reading, and pregnant women in the town's small clinics often giving birth in the dark.
Later this year, the amount of power generated will be increased to 70 megawatts by phase 3 of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Solar Power Plant in the rural town of Blitta.
The project was developed by Dubai-based Amea Power, which has delivered more than 1,230MW of clean energy projects in operations in Burkina Faso, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco.
The project has enabled the construction of three new primary schools, with two more to come, and a dedicated building for a university.
The Togolese Ministry of Education claims that the project has significantly improved the academic performance and enrolment rate of Blitta's children. Minister Komlan Ekoue declared: "Only two years ago, only six children passed to the sixth grade; this year it will be 100% of the children".
Due to the weekly birth of 10 children, the possibility of receiving better equipment and sterilisation means a considerable decrease in deaths due to infections, leading to a reduced risk of mortality for both newborns and mothers.
In addition, the health clinic has improved access and quality of medical care for villagers and nearby communications. Thanks to this project, citizens will also have economic opportunities to expand their businesses through the use of solar energy.
It has also meant an increase in industrial attraction in the area, as the solar plant will be a reliable source of stable energy that can be used for businesses and manufacturers, leading to more employment opportunities for locals.
The UAE has supported many projects in Africa as part of its commitment to sustainable development and humanitarian cooperation. The UAE has provided millions of people with clean and affordable electricity through the financing and implementation of renewable energy projects in countries such as Egypt, Mauritania, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda.
