Is there a solar power plant in Mogadishu?

In June 2020, Somalia’s largest electricity provider, BECO, announced the opening of a new solar power plant in the capital city of Mogadishu. BECO is the only company that provides electricity for Mogadishu, Afgooye, Balad, Barawe, Kismayu, Marka, Jowhar and Elasha.

How many people in Mogadishu have no electricity?

According to the World Bank’s 2018 report, more than 64% of the population has no access to electricity. Beco, the company that provides the public electricity service in the city of Mogadishu, has recently installed a photovoltaic solar power plant there.

Could solar power replace diesel generators in Mogadishu?

One of the biggest electricity companies in Mogadishu, BECO, set up a solar plant to supplement and, in the long run, potentially replace diesel generators that individuals and businesses have been using for decades, the company said. FILE - Children play under the solar powered street lights at a refugee camp in Mogadishu, July 11, 2013.

How has solar power benefited Mogadishu?

BECO, which provides electricity services to 280,000 customers in Mogadishu, set up its first solar plant in 2016. Solar power has helped reduce the price of electricity for BECO customers from $1.20 per kilowatt to just 36 cents per kilowatt. “Economically, the public benefited with cheaper electricity.

Can solar power replace diesel generators in Somalia?

A surge in solar power Another source of energy gaining traction in Somalia is solar power. One of the biggest electricity companies in Mogadishu, BECO, set up a solar plant to supplement and, in the long run, potentially replace diesel generators that individuals and businesses have been using for decades, the company said.

How can BECO's new solar power plant help Somalia?

Because Somalia struggles with a lack of electricity and high electric costs, BECO’s new solar power plant has the potential to positively impact many people’s lives. When it opened, the power plant had the capacity to produce 8 MW.