Completed Mixed AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides CFA 17 billion grant for 15MW Sakaï Photovoltaic Power Plant Project

$28.33M USD

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of the Central African Republic
Country	Central African Republic
Start Date	Aug 07, 2019
End Date	Mar 05, 2032
Duration	4,594 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`55691`

Grant Description

During the Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in September 2018, the heads of state of China and the Central African Republic (CAR) agreed to cooperate on the construction of a photovoltaic power station in Bangui with a total power generation of 15 megawatts. In February 2019, the Government of the CAR announced its intentions to undertake a project feasibility study.

Then, on August 7, 2019, the Chinese Government and the Government of the CAR signed an exchange of letters regarding the 15MW Sakaï Photovoltaic Power Plant Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reportedly issued a grant worth CFA 17 billion in support of the project.

The purpose of the project was to construct a 15 MW solar power plant (‘field’) in Sakaï within the municipality of Bimbo (west of the capital Bangui).

The power plant has 33,432 solar panels of nearly two square meters each, aligned in a 16-hectare field, which supply electricity to factories, schools and homes in the capital city of Bangui. Changjiang Survey, Planning, Design and Research Co. Ltd was the contractor responsible for project design.

Tianjin Electric Power Construction (TEPC) was the contractor responsible for project implementation. A formal groundbreaking ceremony took place on January 17, 2020. However, Chinese technical teams could not make it to the project site until November 2020. Construction ultimately began on April 8, 2021.

The power plant was plant was commissioned on a trial basis on June 15, 2022.

📋 Staff Comments

This project is also known as the 15MW Bangui Photovoltaic Power Plant Project. The Chinese project title is 中国援中非光伏电站项目 or 援中非光伏电站项目. The French project title is Ia construction du projet de Champ solaire or La centrale photovoltaïque de Sakaï .
The August 7, 2019 exchange of letters was signed by the Chinese ambassador to CAR, Chen Dong, and the CAR Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation.

📚 Sources & References

驻中非大使陈栋与中非经济部长签署援中非光伏电站项目立项换文
中国援中非光伏电站举行奠基仪式
中国—中非两国签署班吉光伏电站项目考察纪要, 15 MW Bangui China-aided Solar Power St...roject - Details on ZAWYA MENA Edition.pdf
Central African Republic President lays... power station - People_s Daily Online.pdf
驻中非大使陈栋赴中国援中非光伏电站项目考察.pdf
RCA_ la Chine va réaliser un parc solaire de 15 MW à Sakaï sous forme de don.pdf
驻中非大使陈栋在当地多家主流媒体发表署名文章《弘扬中非友好合作精神，共建新时代中国—中非命运共同体》
驻中非大使陈栋赴中国援中非光伏电站项目考察
中国援中非光伏电站举行奠基仪式
驻中非大使陈栋赴中国援中非光伏电站项目考察
中非总统、总理、议长出席中国援中非光伏电站项目奠基仪式
中国援建光伏电站缓解中非共和国用电难题
Allocution de S.E.M. CHEN Dong
Ambassadeur de la République Populaire de Chine en République Centrafricaine à l’occasion de la Cérémonie de pose de la première pierre du Projet de Champ solaire
Une nouvelle centrale solaire à Bangui grâce à la Chine, 03:38 Une nouvelle centrale solaire à Bangui grâce à la Chine
Centrafrique : la centrale photovoltaïque construite par la Chine soulage les pénuries d'électricité
Feature: China-aided photovoltaic power plant helps ease CAR's electricity shortage
ALLOCUTION DE L’AMBASSADEUR DE LA REPUBLIQUE POPULAIRE DE CHINE EN REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE A L’OCCASION DE LA CÉLÉBRATION DU 70ÈMEANNIVERSAIRE DE LA FONDATION DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE
中非政府新任总理视察援中非光伏电站项目
特点：中国辅助光伏发电厂有助于缓解CAR的电力短缺
China-aided photovoltaic power plant helps ease CAR's electricity shortage
China-aided solar farm helps ease CAR's power shortage
China-aided photovoltaic power plant helps ease CAR's electricity shortage Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.

All Grantees

Government of the Central African Republic

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