According to agreements announced on Friday, the World Bank will give Togo $200 million for energy infrastructure projects to assist address the catastrophic electrical situation in the West African nation.
At a time when political tensions are already raging, power outages that have plagued Togo in recent months have contributed to a rise in unrest.Sani Yaya, the minister of finance and economy of Togo, hailed the deal as timely and stated that Togolese living in rural regions will especially benefit from the money for the construction of new transmission lines.
“It will contribute to fortifying the electrical energy supply, allowing over 1.5 million individuals to gain improved access to electricity,” stated the minister. Nigeria, a major regional power, has restricted its power supplies to Benin, Niger, and Togo beginning May 1 for a six-month period, which is largely to blame for the current problem.
According to the operator’s accounts, Togo imports a significant portion of its electricity from Nigeria and owes the country’s electricity operator several million dollars.
In addition to financing power infrastructure, the World Bank consented to contribute an additional $75 million to enhance the administration of Togo’s public sector finances and human resources.
Additionally, $23 million was set aside to support refugees, internally displaced people, and the towns in northern Togo that are housing them. The World Bank’s 2024 investment in Togo is expected to reach $1.21 billion, up from $295 million in 2017.
