NEWS

Afripower, one of the major power producers in Madagascar, has started construction of a large utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plant that will operate alongside the existing Mandroseza heavy fuel oil power station. This development is seen as an important step in Madagascar’s efforts to move towards cleaner, more reliable, and cost-effective energy sources while reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The solar project is part of Afripower’s wider plan to modernise the country’s power infrastructure. The company operates on the Antananarivo Interconnected Network and took over an ageing heavy fuel oil power plant in 2022. Since then, Afripower has carried out major rehabilitation work at the site, increasing its generation capacity from about 5 MW to nearly 40 MW. The addition of solar power is expected to further strengthen electricity supply in the region.

The new solar facility is being developed in Moramanga and will have a total installed capacity of 40 MWp once fully completed. When operational, it will be among the largest solar power plants in Madagascar. The first phase of the project is planned to be completed in early 2026 and is expected to add around 15 MWp of capacity to the grid. The remaining capacity will be added in later phases.

The solar plant is designed to reduce fuel imports, lower electricity generation costs, and provide cleaner power to consumers. Each megawatt of solar electricity supplied to the grid can help the country save significant fuel costs, which is important for an island nation that relies heavily on imported energy resources.