Togo Secures Solar Energy Deals with RELP and Chinese HAIER

Energy

Friday, 06 December 2024 09:18

Togo Secures Solar Energy Deals with RELP and Chinese HAIER

(Togo First) - Togo just inked two solar energy agreements with the RELP association and Chinese company HAIER. The deals were sealed on December 5, during the first West African Energy Cooperation Summit in Lomé.

The first agreement with RELP focuses on enhancing Togo's solar energy storage capacity. This will improve the Battery Energy Storage System, allowing excess energy produced during the day to be stored for nighttime use, according to Minister Robert Eklo. He emphasized that this will boost storage capacities for projects like the Blitta power plant, and future developments.

"With RELP, we'll be able to increase this storage capacity, not only on the Blida solar power plant, but on the upcoming one in Sokodé, on the upcoming one in Dapaong, on the upcoming one in Awandjélo in Kozah, and on the other solar power plants that we're going to have to deploy to reach 50% of the energy mix in 2030," explained the minister.

The agreement with HAIER will provide technological support for Togo's solar initiatives. This follows a memorandum of understanding signed last September, at the China-Africa FOCAC Forum in Beijing. "Haier is expected to contribute its technology to Togo's photovoltaic project. It's a memorandum of understanding that has yet to be given substance, but we have no doubt that given the friendly ties between China and Togo...this will translate very quickly into other photovoltaic and energy storage projects in Togo," officials stated.

Currently, Togo has over 130 MW of renewable energy.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.