In West Africa, the energy transition is gaining momentum as more medium-sized solar power plants come online. These projects, led by independent producers, are becoming the new standard, giving countries a fresh way to reduce their reliance on imported energy and diversify. A newly built 228 km 225 kV transmission line connecting Kayes in Mali and Tambacounda in Senegal has significantly improved electricity supply and access for 404,000 people in Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. The Gambia River Development Organization (OMVG) Interconnection has helped improve access. Senegal has begun commercial operations at a new solar energy facility that combines photovoltaic power with lithium-ion battery storage, the first of its kind in West Africa, as the country of over 18 million people moves to strengthen its electricity grid. West Africa is expected to drive over half of Africa's total capital expenditure between 2023 and 2030, with the region leading the continent's $47 billion spending spree in 2024, according to the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) State of African Energy 2025 Outlook.
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