Clean power, CIZO, Kekeli Efficient Power plant, BBOXX: A review of 2019’s main highlights in the power sector

Energy

Friday, 10 January 2020 14:53

Clean power, CIZO, Kekeli Efficient Power plant, BBOXX: A review of 2019’s main highlights in the power sector

January

Government adopts a legal framework for the production, distribution, and commercialization of renewable energies

The government’s goal here is to “tackle issues spurred by the insufficient power availability, increase the related capacity,” as well as reduce the county’s dependency regarding electricity.

February

Green Climate Fund backs transition to clean energy in some WAEMU States

Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Mali, and Niger get €100 million from the Green Climate Fund to accelerate their transition towards clean energies. The funds will be provided through the BOAD.

March

The government provides a subsidy for households benefiting from the CIZO

Every month, over a period of 36 months, Togo has decided to provide a 40% subsidy for households having CIZO solar kits.

Togolese startup Kya Energy Group selected to train 3,000 engineers to service solar kits under the CIZO project

KYA-Energy Group, winner of the 2018 BOAD Startup award, lands a deal with the government of Togo to train 3,000 service engineers on the CIZO project.

Togo and AMEA POWER ink MoU to set up a solar plant in Blitta

During a trip to the United Arab Emirates, Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, signs a memorandum of understanding with AMEA Power. Under the agreement, a 30MW solar PV plant is to be built, in the North-central region of Togo.

BOAD commits to finance Kekeli Efficient Power thermal plant.

The BOAD’s board of directors approves a XOF25 billion financing to build the Kekeli Efficient Power thermal plant.

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Dèdèriwè Marc Ably-Bidamon, attends 13th Germany-Africa Forum on Energy

Among others, the official talks about challenges impeding the energy revolution and its financing, in Africa.

June

SOLEVA, second approved operator on CIZO, starts activities

SOLEVA, the second operator on the CIZO project, after BBOXX, starts its operations.

The laying of the first stone fo Kekeli Efficient Power plant takes place

Prime Minister Komi Sélom Klassou and Eranove executives lay the first stone of the Kekeli Efficient Power thermal plant. The infrastructure which will have an installed capacity of 65MW will use combined-cycle technology. This will ensure that it generates more power, without consuming additional gas, while limiting CO2 emissions.

EU and AfDB announced support to CIZO

Alongside the AfDB, the European Union announces its support to the CIZO rural power project, as part of its investment plan in Africa.

July

Mitsubishi gets engaged in CIZO project

Mitsubishi announces its engagement in CIZO, after a talk between President Gnassingbé and the firm’s chief for Africa, Yas Doida.

August

Mitsubishi buys into BBOXX

The Japanese conglomerate led a $50M investment in the British off-grid solar company.

Ecobank transitions to clean energy

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) migrates towards clean power by using solar PV power plants to meet part of its energy needs.

October

World Bank lauds Togo’s power-related reforms in 2020 Doing Business report

In the 2020 Doing Business report, the World Bank lauded Togo’s results in the power sector.

The country ranked 99th over 190 counties with a score of 72.6 points. The improvement was spurred by three main reforms: a 50% reduction in the fee to get connected to the grid for businesses, the reduction in the period to get connected to less than 30 days, from two and a half months in 2017; as well as a more efficient power supply. In 2019, Togo had ranked 105th in this report, with a score of 70.

December

Eranove closes funding process for Kekeli Efficient Power thermal plant

Eranove closes the funding process for the Kekeli Efficient Power project - raising XOF65.4 billion from institutions and banks (BOAD, AFC, Orabank Togo, BIA Togo, NSIA Benin, and Banque Atlantique Togo). The operation was guaranteed by GuarantCo with XOF14.2 billion.

AfDB invests about XOF9 billion in CIZO and PND

The government and the African Development Bank (AfDB) sign an agreement related to the CIZO’s social component, the PRAVOST, and the targeted support project aligning with the PND.

Séna Akoda

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.