The government of rupture, since taking office, has resolved to do empowerment
energy in Benin a reality. After 3 and a half years of hard work, the facts easily prove right
to President Patrice Talon and his collaborators. The back realization dates back to Thursday, August 29, 2019, date
the official inauguration of the Maria Gleta 2 Power Plant. In an exclusive interview, minister
Of energy Dona Jean-Claude Houssou took stock of the production and consumption of
energy in Benin. He then lifted a corner of the veil on the implications of Maria Gléta's project, in particular
socio-community benefits.
Does the commissioning of the Maria Gléta power plant allow an extension of the electricity network in the
localities that are still in the dark or will it serve as a relay in case of reduction
unexpected imported energy ?
What I can say, at the same time as the government develops means of production in the image
by Maria Gléta, we are also working on the extension and densification of the network
electric of our country, of which unfortunately a good part is dilapidated. As you know, tout
The electrical system is divided into three parts: there is production, transmission and distribution. If one of
three parts is failing, the energy will not come to the consumer. Particularly on this project of
Maria Gléta, in the context of socio your question. This is the extension of the low< voltage network by 25 km to mesh all the
agglomerations where this power plant is located, then 150 street lights that will illuminate this locality. Dans
This socio-community impact, there are 24 classrooms that are built, the police station, the local
for the infirmary, a 3 km road that allows access to the power plant.
The question of whether the plant will serve as a relay or not? It's both Yes and No. Yes because en
in the event of a failure in terms of electrical availability, we can rely even more on the
Maria Gléta. No, because as I speak to you, this plant provides electrical energy to our
country, now replacing the rental means we used during the period
short-term action. Since 2016, the government has prioritized energy, which is the foundation of everything
economic development in all countries of the world. Maria Gléta allowed us to demobilize the
rental means.
What is the overall need of all benin expressed in Megawatts? What is the percentage of coverage
Maria Gléta's electricity compared to the national need? When will we finish with load shedding?
The need for electricity in Benin today varies according to the hours of the day. Between 7pm and 10pm,
we have the peak which is 240-250 Mw. The need is around 160 Mw during the day. In reality the tests have
showed that Maria Gléta which has a capacity of 129 Mw already meets 50% of the needs, including hours
peak. What you need to know, load shedding is definitely behind us. Because, load shedding is one
voluntary phenomenon. Load shedding is done when supply does not meet demand and to avoid
losing the network, we are voluntarily forced to cut off certain areas to balance supply and
request. With Maria Gléta, the rest of the rented equipment will be demobilized by the end of 2019. All this translates the
correctness of the choices made by the government in 2016 to make energy available in the short term.
What is the overall cost of building the Maria Gléta 2 power plant? What is the lifespan
of machines installed ?
It is an eminently capital-intensive sector, so a lot of investment. This project is planned to cost
106 billion of our francs, started on time and ended before time. Overall we are around 90
billion CFA francs out of the 106 planned. This shows the best management of a historical and major product with  extraordinary budgetary rigour. This 90 billion is divided between the Islamic Bank of
development (with 75% of financing at a rate of 1.3%), Bidc and Boad without forgetting the share
Beninese which is about 4 billion FCFA. What you need to know, this plant can run on fuel
as with gas. The government has decided to give preference to gas for reasons of protection of
the environment and financial costs with regard to the purchase of gas. To avoid possible shortages
of gas, the government in its Pag has planned the acquisition of a floating gas unit. What is a
reality with the realization of the international call for tender of this project of 51 billion for diversification
sources of gas supply. The service life of these motors exceeds fifty years
provided that the maintenance is carried out correctly and on the right date. In general, revisions
general in this case are carried out every 2 years.
Why did you entrust the management of this jewel to the Sbee? What's stopping the government from
privatize Sbee in order to offer a better service to consumers?
With regard to the first question, contrary to what one might think, the management of the plant is
entrusted to the company BW Benin SA which is a subsidiary of the company that built the plant. She has a team
55 people including 52 Beninese who will be there 24/365 for maintenance.
For the privatization of the Sbee, it should be noted that the concerns are legitimate. But I can tell you
that the government did not wait now to launch reforms in this society. What has
led to the introduction of quarterly performance indices (technical, financial, ...) at each
responsible for this company. All this with the aim of improving and modernizing this society. Always in
this perspective, the functioning of the board of directors of the Sbee has been improved and a call
of offers was launched for delegated management to allow Sbee to be a modern company and
model within 4 years. The government has chosen the path of delegated management and not the privatization of
the Sbee. Because to privatize is to sell.
What about Maria Gléta 1? Won't the price of electricity kill entrepreneurship in Benin? And what
are the environmental provisions?
This plant complies with administrative and environmental standards. For example, it makes noise at 40
Decibels. While the allowed standard is 60 to 80 decibels. The NO2 emission shall not exceed
2,000 mg, but Maria Gléta2 is at 1,200mg so well below the international requirements on r environmental protection.
Compared to Maria Gléta 1, it should be noted that there is a parliamentary inquiry initiated to allow to see
clear and locate responsibilities.
The price of electricity takes into account certain aspects, namely social tariff for the social level,...it will be necessary
You should know that the Sbee has been subsidized by the State. What
is not sustainable in the long term if the availability of this energy is to be guaranteed. The regulatory authority
defends consumers while ensuring the vitality of the sector. So the price of electricity is good
affordable to date.
Why do the houses around the plant have regular voltage drops? What about b< /> renewable energies ?
This is due to area overload during peak periods. The obsolescence of our facilities also leads to
energy losses, often cause voltage drops. The government is hard at work to change
and modernize facilities.
For renewable energies, a call for tenders is launched for its implementation. This allows you to have
50 Mw solar power plants in Bohicon, Parakou, Djougou and Natitingou. Next to all this, another project
of 25 Mw financed by the French Agency for Development and the European Union, will see the light of day by
2020. Everything will be done so that by 2021 we have a total of 400 Mw available in our country of which
25% renewable energy in accordance with Pag.
In our houses, some owners sell us energy at 200F per Kw. We ask you to correct this injustice.
In relation to this problem, the tenant with the agreement of the owner can take a prepaid meter at the
SBEE to avoid this injustice.
I hope that the 3rd power plant will follow? In Porto-Novo from the Catchi crossroads to the Coop, the street lamps
solar do not turn on anymore. What is the structure in charge of the maintenance of street lamps? What in
is there many requests for meters without follow-up?
I confirm that there will be Maria Gléta3, Maria Gléta 4 and several other power plants in accordance with the PAG. Null
doubt because saying and doing are a trademark of the Talon.
government For the management of street lamps, it must be said that in Benin the management of public lighting is the responsibility of the
Common. To this end, I am considering a round table with the National Association of Communes of Benin
to find a solution. For the specific case of Porto-Novo, the diagnosis made it possible to see that these are the
vary in the batteries that are at the base and deserve to be replaced. I would like to take this opportunity to
warn some of our fellow citizens who vandalize street lamps, especially lamps
solar, that they will undergo the rigors of the law.
For electricity meter shortages, a lack of anticipation is the basis of this
phenomenon. But arrangements are already being made to satisfy applicants who revolve around
23,000 well below the 200,000 meters that will soon be available in total before the holidays
end of year 2019.
When will the extension of electricity networks in peri-urban areas be extended?
The project funded by the Bad and Bidc deals with this component in more than 200 villages. A comparison with
the period 2012-2015, the current government is well ahead with more than 20% coverage rate.
Where are we with the Adjarala dam?
It should be noted that this project is common in Benin and Togo. Work was suspended in 2017 and a
decision is still awaited on this subject.
When will a hydroelectric dam be built on the Ouémé River?
The government has identified three dam locations. These are Bétérou, Vossa and Dogo bis who have
respectively a potential of 20, 60 and 160 Mw. It must be said that this government is betting on vocation
multifunctional of these dams i.e. electricity generation, irrigation and flood management
in the areas crossed. The other thing, hydroelectric projects are long it takes up to 4 years to build an electric dam without counting the financial cost.
What about paying bills by mobile payment?
Conclusive tests were carried out in June and by the end of 2019 it will be possible to pay the invoices
by mobile money with or without connection.
About the 20 km of low voltage planned for the surrounding agglomerations of the br Maria Gléta, when will the work be completed?
This work will be completed at the end of 2019 in accordance with the requirements of the Head of State.
Since 2016, I have never seen President Talon lay the foundation stones. I want to see him hold
trowel and pickaxe....
Since 2016, you have not seen the Head of State either to launch the work or for the inauguration. It's a president Talon's trademark quite simply. For any other concerns, you can
send the questions in my email which is [email protected]
Finally, I will say that any cuts will no longer be due to load shedding but rather to other
causes such as incivism or falling trees, or theft of copper at the wire
Drivers... Efforts are being made and will be continued. In less than 2 years, we have reduced
suffering of our fellow citizens in terms of electrical energy. This has affected GDP because in 2015 we
we have a growth rate of 2.3% but with the availability of energy, we went in 2018 to a rate
growth of 6.8% with a forecast of 7.2% for 2019. Energy now at the heart of Benin
as a land of opportunity thanks to President Patrice Talon.