China-aided photovoltaic power plant helps ease CAR's electricity shortage

BANGUI -- About nine kilometers west of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), lies Bimbo 4 locality where 33,432 solar panels of nearly two square meters each, located tightly in a field of some 16 hectares, supply day-to-day power to factories, schools and households in Bangui after converting sunlight into electricity.

Sakai photovoltaic power plant, or Solar field called by locals, a Chinese aided project and built by China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction CO., Ltd (TEPC), has developed local society and economy while easing Bangui's lack of electricity.

The CAR has long been plagued by internal conflicts that has really slowed social development, resulting in electricity shortages and frequent blackouts for local populations.

Emmanuel-Boris Yandouandji, 29, father of two and tenant in the Central African capital, said that "we have a lot of problems. Sometimes we don't have power for two or three weeks. The refrigerator can't work, food is rotting. It's too hot but the fans can't work either, the lights are off, and my children can't study at night."

Elvis Nambama, 32, who lives on the outskirts of Bangui, recalled that his neighbors were afraid to go out at night because the area was very dark and quiet due to power outages.

Thierry Guilabe, 26, agrees with him and is also concerned about safety after blackout.

"Cellphone cannot be charged, and we are in danger if there are no television or radio to learn about the rebel attacks outside," he said.

Fortunately, the situation quickly changed.

At the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the heads of state of China and CAR reached a consensus on the aid project of building a photovoltaic power station in the CAR. In April 2021, the TEPC went to the country to start construction. After site leveling, foundation construction, equipment installation and wiring, the plant was put into trial operation on June 15 this year.

According to Zhang Zhiguo, project manager of Solar field, Bangui currently depends mainly on high-cost diesel production and slower-growing hydropower, while this plant, the first of its kind in the CAR, can immediately solve the problem of electricity shortage with a short-term construction, the ecological character and an installed capacity of 15 megawatts.

Official data show that the power plant successfully meets 30 percent of the city's demand.

"It gives us a lot of power, we have fridges for ice water. Kids are learning under the lights and I hope they learn well," Yandouandji said.

And Nambama and Guilabe feel safer with lights at night.

"The nighttime economy is also growing. One of my families has a small restaurant that is open at night. Solar field has brought life to the area and I think it is getting better," Guilabe said.

Zhang pointed out that the construction provided about 700 jobs and taught workers various skills.

"In this country, there is a lot of unemployment. Thanks to Solar field, I could to work to support my family. I also learned to wire," said Guilabe, who works at Solar field.

In the monitoring room, Eric Bangala, who came here six months ago, is wiring with a Chinese engineer.

"I am very happy to work with the Chinese who came to our country and gave us this gift. When I worked with my Chinese brother, I learned great skills and he trained me. In the future, I would rather stay here and be a great electrician, and even if the Chinese leaves one day, I would stay here and continue the work," he said.

The city of Bangui is still developing and the demand for electricity will increase, according to Zhang who adds that "more than 3,000 square meters of land has been reserved for the installation of new power grids if necessary".