UAE Firm Begins Construction of Transformative 50 MW Solar Project in Central African Republic

A groundbreaking renewable energy initiative is taking shape in the heart of Africa as UAE-based Global South Utilities (GSU) officially breaks ground on a transformative 50-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant in Sakaï, Central African Republic. This landmark project represents far more than an infrastructure development—it embodies hope for millions of Central Africans who have long struggled with energy poverty and signals a new era of sustainable development cooperation between the UAE and Africa.

The project is expected to supply clean electricity to more than 300,000 households and offset over 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Beyond its environmental benefits, the initiative will include a 10 megawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to enhance grid stability and ensure continuous power availability, addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the Central African Republic’s fragile energy infrastructure.

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Addressing Africa’s Most Severe Energy Crisis

The Scale of Energy Poverty in CAR

The Central African Republic faces one of the world’s most severe energy access challenges. With a national installed capacity of just 41.20 MW and only 32.40% access rate mainly concentrated in the capital, the country represents the extreme end of Africa’s energy poverty spectrum. Over 640 million Africans have no access to energy, corresponding to an electricity access rate for African countries at just over 40 percent, the lowest in the world.

This energy crisis has profound implications for economic development, healthcare delivery, education, and basic quality of life. In the Central African Republic, one of the poorest countries in the world, efforts are being made to bring electricity to those without it, making the GSU solar project a critical intervention in addressing this fundamental development challenge.

The Peace and Development Nexus

The connection between energy access and peace in the Central African Republic cannot be overstated. Exploring the role of electrification and renewable energy in supporting peace in CAR – with the help of UN peacekeeping has become a key focus for international development efforts. Reliable electricity can strengthen institutions, improve service delivery, and create economic opportunities that contribute to stability and peace-building efforts.

The Sakaï solar project aligns with broader international recognition that electrification and renewable energy play crucial roles in supporting peace in conflict-affected regions like the Central African Republic.

High-Level Government Engagement and Strategic Importance

Presidential Support Demonstrates National Priority

The groundbreaking ceremony’s attendance by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra underscores the project’s strategic importance to the Central African Republic’s development agenda. The participation of Pascal Bida Koyagbele, Minister of State for Strategic Investments and Major Works, along with senior government officials and GSU leadership, demonstrates the high-level political commitment behind this transformative initiative.

“For the Central African Republic, this project will play a key role in expanding energy access to communities across the country,” said Ali Alshimmari, Managing Director and CEO of GSU. “It represents another milestone in our commitment to delivering clean, scalable energy solutions in places that others may see as difficult – but which we view as gateways to opportunity and sustainable growth.”

World Bank Support and International Cooperation

The project builds on significant international support for Central African Republic’s energy sector development. The World Bank has approved a $138 million grant (financed by an $83 million grant from IDA, a $30 million grant from the Green Climate Fund, and $25 million in private financing) for the Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (PARSE), demonstrating coordinated international efforts to address the country’s energy challenges.

The World Bank’s approach to revitalizing the energy sector in the Central African Republic focuses on building essential new infrastructure throughout the energy supply process, including creating solar parks, upgrading transmission and distribution infrastructure, and providing technical support.

The UAE’s Expanding CEPA Strategy

A Historic Trade Partnership Framework

The Sakaï solar project follows the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between the UAE and CAR in March 2025, which aims to deepen bilateral trade and investment across key sectors. The CEPA between the UAE and the Central African Republic will provide investment opportunities across various service sectors, with renewable energy emerging as a flagship area of cooperation.

This agreement represents part of the UAE’s ambitious global trade strategy. The UAE has signed trade agreements with countries and blocs that account for a quarter of the world’s population, demonstrating Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s commitment to expanding economic partnerships beyond traditional markets.

Strategic Vision for Non-Oil Trade Growth

In 2025 alone, the UAE signed five new CEPAs with Malaysia, New Zealand, Kenya, Ukraine and the Central African Republic, as part of a comprehensive program to raise non-oil foreign trade to $1.09 trillion by 2031. This ambitious target reflects the UAE’s strategic diversification away from oil dependence and toward sustainable economic partnerships with emerging markets.

The Central African Republic CEPA fits within this broader framework of South-South cooperation that leverages the UAE’s financial resources and technical expertise to address development challenges in partner countries while creating new markets for Emirati businesses.

Technical Specifications and Innovation Features

Advanced Solar Technology and Grid Integration

The 50-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant incorporates state-of-the-art technology designed to maximize energy production in Central Africa’s tropical climate. The inclusion of a 10 megawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) represents a significant technological advancement that addresses one of solar energy’s primary limitations—intermittency.

This battery storage capability ensures that electricity can be supplied during nighttime hours and cloudy periods, providing the reliability that households and businesses require for productive activities. The grid stabilization benefits of the BESS technology will also help improve the overall quality and consistency of electricity supply across the Central African Republic’s limited but growing electrical grid.

Environmental Impact and Climate Benefits

The project’s environmental credentials are substantial, with expected annual carbon dioxide emission reductions of over 50,000 tons. This contribution to global climate goals aligns with international commitments under the Paris Agreement while demonstrating that developing countries can participate meaningfully in global decarbonization efforts.

The use of solar energy also reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, which can be particularly costly and logistically challenging for a landlocked country like the Central African Republic. This energy independence has both economic and strategic security benefits for the nation.

Economic Development and Employment Creation

Job Creation in the Renewable Energy Sector

Beyond its immediate energy benefits, the Sakaï project will create new employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector, supporting local skills development and economic inclusion. These jobs span the entire project lifecycle, from construction and installation to ongoing operations and maintenance activities.

The emphasis on local skills development ensures that Central African workers can benefit from technology transfer and capacity building, creating a foundation for future renewable energy projects in the country. This approach aligns with best practices in sustainable development that prioritize local ownership and capacity building.

Catalyzing Broader Economic Activity

Reliable electricity access is fundamental to economic development, enabling businesses to operate more efficiently, extending productive hours, and supporting the development of energy-intensive industries. For the 300,000 households expected to benefit from the project, improved electricity access can transform daily life by enabling children to study after dark, supporting home-based enterprises, and improving access to information and communication technologies.

The project’s impact on economic productivity extends beyond direct beneficiaries, as improved grid stability and expanded electricity access can attract additional investment and support the growth of existing businesses across the region.

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Regional Context and Continental Energy Challenges

Africa’s Energy Access Imperative

The Central African Republic project takes place within the broader context of Africa’s massive energy access challenges. Africa is home to 600 million people who lack access to energy, and it also has the fastest growing population: in two decades, one out of every four people in the world will live on the continent. This demographic reality makes energy infrastructure development one of the most urgent priorities for sustainable development across the continent.

Access to electricity across the continent is rising, yet it is low and unevenly distributed, limiting development, highlighting the critical importance of projects like the Sakaï solar plant in addressing these systemic challenges.

Learning from Continental Best Practices

African nations are showing significant momentum in transitioning toward a sustainable and secure energy future, with regional developments, global partnerships and policy shifts all contributing to a more diverse and decentralised energy mix. The UAE-CAR partnership represents an innovative model of South-South cooperation that other countries and investors can study and potentially replicate.

Broader Implications for UAE-Africa Relations

Expanding African Energy Portfolio

This plant is part of GSU’s growing portfolio of clean energy projects across Africa, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to climate-friendly investments and practical economic partnerships with countries in the Global South. The project demonstrates how Middle Eastern capital and expertise can be leveraged to address African development challenges while creating sustainable business opportunities.

The success of the Sakaï project could catalyze additional UAE investments across the Central African Republic and neighboring countries, potentially establishing the Emirates as a major player in African renewable energy development.

Model for South-South Cooperation

The partnership between the UAE and Central African Republic exemplifies effective South-South cooperation, where developing and emerging economies collaborate to address shared challenges. This model offers an alternative to traditional North-South development partnerships and demonstrates the growing capacity of Global South countries to drive their own development agendas.

Technical Challenges and Implementation Strategy

Grid Integration and Infrastructure Development

Integrating 50 megawatts of new generation capacity into the Central African Republic’s limited electrical grid presents significant technical challenges. The existing infrastructure, managed by the national utility ENERCA, will require upgrades and reinforcement to accommodate the additional power supply and ensure reliable distribution to end users.

The project’s battery storage component will play a crucial role in managing grid stability and power quality, helping to smooth out fluctuations in solar generation and providing backup power during maintenance periods or equipment failures.

Community Engagement and Local Participation

Successful implementation of the Sakaï project requires meaningful engagement with local communities and stakeholders. This includes ensuring that local workers have opportunities to participate in construction and operations, that environmental and social safeguards are properly implemented, and that the benefits of improved electricity access are equitably distributed across target communities.

Future Prospects and Scaling Opportunities

Potential for Project Replication

The success of the Sakaï solar project could serve as a proof of concept for similar renewable energy investments across the Central African Republic and neighboring countries. This shift opens space for African countries to develop their energy systems by engaging with international partners in pragmatic ways that were not possible under the previous paradigm, suggesting broader opportunities for innovative energy partnerships.

The project’s technical design and financing structure could be adapted for other locations with similar energy access challenges, potentially creating a scalable model for rapid renewable energy deployment across sub-Saharan Africa.

Long-term Energy Sector Transformation

Beyond its immediate benefits, the Sakaï project represents a stepping stone toward a more comprehensive transformation of the Central African Republic’s energy sector. As the country builds experience with large-scale renewable energy projects and develops local technical capacity, it can pursue additional investments that further expand electricity access and support economic development.

Conclusion: A Beacon of Hope for Sustainable Development

The UAE’s 50-megawatt solar project in the Central African Republic represents more than an infrastructure investment—it embodies a vision of sustainable development that addresses immediate human needs while contributing to global climate goals. For a country where electricity activities have been governed by outdated frameworks and limited capacity for over 40 years, this project offers genuine hope for transformation.

As the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development approaches and international attention focuses on African development challenges, the Sakaï project stands as a concrete example of how innovative partnerships can deliver tangible benefits to communities most in need.

The success of this initiative will likely influence future renewable energy investments across Africa and could establish the UAE as a leading partner in the continent’s sustainable energy transition. For the Central African Republic, the project represents a crucial step toward energy security, economic development, and improved quality of life for hundreds of thousands of citizens who have waited too long for reliable electricity access.

In a world increasingly focused on climate action and sustainable development, the Sakaï solar project demonstrates that environmental protection and poverty alleviation can be mutually reinforcing goals. As construction proceeds over the coming months, this initiative will serve as a beacon of hope and a model for transformative development partnerships between Global South nations.

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By: Montel Kamau

Serrari Financial Analyst

18th August, 2025