Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Solar Energy Brings Promise, Challenges to Sahel Region

Annie Risemberg

   BAMAKO, MALI - The African Development Bank held a virtual conference
   this week focused on solar energy in the Sahel region.

   Experts at the African Energy Market Place (AEMP) forum say the vast
   semi-arid region separating the Sahara Desert on the north and tropical
   savannas on the south has high solar energy potential, but poor
   infrastructure and funding remain challenges.

   Maman Sambo Sidikou, executive secretary of the G5 Sahel, speaking in
   Abuja, said the countries -- which include Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali,
   Mauritania, and Niger -- are not exploiting solar energy as they
   should.

   With a cumulative gross domestic product close to $53 billion, and a
   large part of the territory benefiting from stable and consistent
   sunshine, the G5 Sahel is the ideal region to demonstrate the power of
   solar energy, Sidikou said.

   Challenges

   However, installing solar energy requires not just solar panels, but
   batteries, inverters, and power regulators, and maintaining and
   repairing the network requires the knowledge of skilled technicians.

   This is a challenge in the Sahel, where infrastructure is lacking.

.