Niger has signed a $144.7 million financing agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to expand electricity access and strengthen the country’s renewable energy sector.
The deal aims to raise Niger’s national electricity access rate from the current 22.5% to 30% by 2026. A major focus of the program is on boosting solar power generation, with plans to expand capacity to 240 megawatts by 2030—up from around 80 megawatts at present.
Under the agreement, the government will also update its energy policies to attract more private-sector investment, particularly in solar mini-grid projects designed to electrify rural communities. The initiative forms part of Niger’s broader efforts to transition toward sustainable and decentralized energy solutions.
Despite Africa’s vast solar potential, the continent currently accounts for only about 1% of global solar generation capacity, even though it possesses roughly 60% of the world’s best solar resources, according to the International Energy Agency.
AfDB officials said the new funding package reflects the bank’s continued commitment to supporting green energy development and improving living conditions across the Sahel region.
If successfully implemented, the Niger project could serve as a model for expanding renewable energy access in similar low-electrification countries across Africa.
