“Solar energy is booming in Niger, one of the world’s sunniest countries, with sales of increasingly cheap solar panels going up and new projects coming online.

An unprecedented energy shortage in 2023 proved a turning point.

Neighboring Nigeria suspended much of its electricity exports to the west African nation as part of regional sanctions against the ruling junta that toppled civilian president Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.

Haoua Amadou, Niger’s energy minister, said the measure led the country’s electricity production to fall by 30% to 50% and forced state-owned power company Nigelec to impose planned power cuts that can last several days, especially in Niamey.

Nigeria has since resumed delivering electricity ‘but only providing 46 megawatts instead of the usual 80 megawatts,’ Amadou said.”

From TechXplore.