GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business has been awarded a contract of $47m for a substation project in Benin.
The nation’s biggest high-voltage substation contract was awarded through the Millennium Challenge Corporation – a United States foreign assistance agency established by the US Congress.
This is a critical grid project as only one-third of Benin’s population has access to electricity, and total per-capita consumption is low due to limited access and availability.
At the same time, rapidly growing demand for power, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient investment has stressed Benin’s national electrical grid, creating power outages that hurt businesses and hinder social services.
Under the contract, GE will supply four substations, including gas-insulated switchgear and seven substation extensions. The scope covers the most important high-voltage substation in the country, Vedoko, and is strategically placed to help strengthen the country’s transmission backbone.
GE will also work on upgrading the substations in Maria-Gleta, Berecingou, Djougou, Bohicon, Natitingou and Parakou.
“In recent years in Benin, there has been a lot of attention and investment in the country’s energy arena. The distribution of electricity to its citizens is a critical enabler to helping make dreams come true, to supporting their aspirations as they take on the challenges of daily modern life,” said Gabriel Degbegni, National Coordinator at MCC.
This is the second contract GE has received through MCC’s $375m power-sector focused agreement, or compact, with Benin.
The first contract, a turnkey distribution management system project involving telecommunication infrastructure and substation adaptations, was awarded in 2018 and is currently being executed.
That project was designed to strengthen the country’s grid and manage electricity losses that result during energy transmission, since Benin imports some of its electricity from neighboring countries.
