UPDATE 1-Solar plants with 60 MW capacity to be built in Senegal

(Updates throughout)

DAKAR, Nov 13 (Reuters) – Two solar plants with a combined 60 megawatts (MW) capacity and battery storage will be built in Senegal’s southern Casamance region to electrify rural areas, Africa-based project developer Axian Energy said on Wednesday.

It said the Kolda solar farm project, scheduled for completion in 2026, would be the largest photovoltaic plant with a BESS (battery energy storage system) in West Africa.

Funders, including the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank (FMO), have provided 84 million euros ($89.27 million) for the Kolda project, bringing its total investment to more than 105 million euros, it added.

The Kolda project is expected to provide clean energy to around 235,000 households in the under-served region and the 72 MW of battery storage will help to safeguard the supply of power.

($1 = 0.9410 euros) (Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; editing by Barbara Lewis)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Click For Restrictions – https://agency.reuters.com/en/copyright.html