August 14, 2024 — Under the auspices of the Africa Minigrids Program, a mini power station was inaugurated in the municipality of Mandalia, Chad, situated just south of the capital city, N’Djamena, with a population of over 5,000.
Chad’s energy landscape is defined by significant challenges that also present unique opportunities. Despite the country’s diverse energy resources and wealth, access to electricity remains limited, particularly in rural areas.
Before the project’s implementation, residents mainly depended on firewood, coal, and butane gas for their energy needs. A small number used generators to light their homes, but these were prone to frequent breakdowns and came with high fuel costs.
Abakar Djidda, a 27-year-old tailor, noted:
“A lot of things have changed in my workshop recently. Like everyone here, we also used generators that consume too much fuel, which limits our working hours. The arrival of electricity in the city has changed everything. First, we can work until the early hours of the morning without spending anything and then my sewing machine, which was manual, is automated thanks to an electric motor, this reduces working time and increases earnings.”
