Niger: BOAD funds power plant expansion

The West African Development Bank (BOAD) has agreed a loan of FCFA20bn ($41m) to the Niger government to fund the expansion of the capital’s main power plant. Capacity at the Goudel plant will be expanded to 65MW from 35MW to improve supply to the Niamey region. Most of Niger’s power comes from the Kandji dam in Nigeria, which supplies towns in the south and centre-east. Northern Niger is supplied through local production by Niger coal company Sonichar, which also supplies power to Areva’s uranium mines.