NIAMEY - 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.
Neighbouring 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 percent 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.
Despite efforts to strengthen local production capacity, Niamey is still subject to controlled power shutdowns.
As a result, people and companies are increasingly turning to solar energy to fill the gaps.
Experts say that recent lithium batteries, which last longer than previous models, along with Niger's increasingly qualified workers have contributed to the solar boom.
Panels, mostly imported from China, are regularly sold directly on the street.
The abundant supply has made solar equipment more accessible.
Prices for top-quality solar panels have been halved to under 50,000 CFA francs (about 75 euros).
Access to electricity in the vast desert country remains below 20 percent but new projects are under way and the junta, whose goal is to reduce its foreign dependency, is expected to keep up the pace.