Rural electrification project in Benin : 209 electrified localities from here 2023

Ajarra town hall served as the setting, Thursday 22 July 2021, at the launch of the Rural Electrification Project (PERU). A project that will provide electrical energy to 209 localities in Benin by December 2023. A mission assigned by the Government of Benin.

133 new rural localities and the extension / densification of the network and 76 peri-urban localities spread over 11 departments and 62 communes. This is the distribution of the localities which will benefit from the PERU. According to Sylvain Sekloka, PERU Coordinator, the consistency of the work, is declined as follows : 809 Km of medium voltage network (HTA) ; 1.085 Km of low voltage network (BT) ; 225 transformer stations for a total power of 47.200 KVA ; 4.500 public lighting homes ; 48.400 promotional connections. Likewise, there is the completion of an APD study for the electrification of 500 new rural localities and the extension / densification of the network in 300 peri-urban localities and the realization of water supply and connection to the electricity of 35 schools with school canteens. All this, an overall cost of 47,06 billion FCFA including 40,5 billion FCFA provided by the AfDB, 6,4 billion FCFA on the national budget for the electrification of 33 rural localities and 872 million FCFA on the budget of the ABERME which is the contracting authority.

During the ceremony, Armand DAKEHOUN, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Energy and representing Minister Dona Jean-Claude HOUSSOU unable to attend thanked the African Development Bank (BAD) for its sustained financial support for the realization of this project. According to his words, thanks to the bold actions that have been undertaken, the energy situation in Benin has significantly improved and results in energy independence and better availability of electricity in sufficient quantity and at the best costs. He pointed out that other initiatives relating to the modernization, to restructuring, to reinforcement, the densification and extension of electricity networks in various municipalities are also underway. Note the presence at the said ceremony of the Mayor of the Municipality of Ajarra, Germain Wanvoegbe and the Prefect of Ouémé, Marie Akpotrossou.

Patrice ADJAHO