Niger has signed a public-private partnership agreement to build its largest-ever power plant, a 200 MW solar facility with battery storage in the capital, Niamey.
The deal, worth 126.1 billion CFA francs (about $225 million), was signed on August 20, 2026, between Niger’s Energy Minister Amadou Haoua and Adamou Amadou Daouda, CEO of Niger Electricity Power Production (NEPP). The project will be developed under a 20-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession, after which ownership will pass to the Nigerien state.
The solar photovoltaic plant will include an integrated battery energy storage system to help stabilise supply and reduce reliance on imported power. Construction is expected to take 24 months, including complementary studies.
Electricity from the plant will be sold to the national utility, NIGELEC, at a tariff of 35 CFA francs per kilowatt-hour (about 6 US cents). The government says the project will strengthen energy security, support economic activity and create around 1,300 jobs during construction and operation.
Niger currently faces significant electricity deficits and depends on imports from neighbouring countries to meet demand. By adding 200 MW of renewable capacity with storage, the country aims to reduce this dependency and improve the reliability of its grid, particularly in and around Niamey.
The agreement also aligns with Niger’s broader energy strategy, which prioritises solar development given the country’s high solar irradiation levels. Officials describe the plant as a milestone in efforts to expand domestic generation and move toward greater energy sovereignty.
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