Landlocked African nation Chad is planning to set up a solar power plant with a capacity ranging between 200 MW and 400 MW. UAE based company Almaden Emirates Fortune Power LLC has signed a project agreement with Chad's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in the presence of Chad President Idriss Deby Itno. The project location and timeline was not revealed.
Entirely dependent on diesel power generation, Chad has some 125 MW of installed generation capacity for a population of 14.5 million, of which 13 million live without power, according to USAID.
Power Africa, which aims to add more than 30 GW of clean energy generation capacity in the continent, is engaged on the development of two solar power projects of 70 MW combined capacity in the country.
Several PV projects already planned
Another 60 MW PV capacity is planned for D'jermaya. The European Union, through the EU-Africa Investment Trust Fund (EU-AITF), has approved a financial contribution of €6.35 million ($7.44 million) for its development. The first phase of 30 MW is planned to enter commercial operations in 2018, while the second is expected to occur within 2 years of the first phase, according EU-AITF.
In July 2017, African Development Bank (AfDB) announced its support for a 32 MW planned for the capital, N'Djamena (see AfDB Finances Chad Plant).