Niger Republic residents turn to solar energy amid prolonged outages following Nigeria’s electricity cut.
Following Nigeria’s 42% reduction in electricity supply, residents of Niger Republic are increasingly adopting solar energy to cope with prolonged blackouts.
The Nigerian government reduced power allocation to Niger from 80 megawatts to 46MW in response to the 2023 military coup, as part of ECOWAS sanctions. Although partial supply resumed, Niger’s electricity production dropped by up to 50%, prompting planned outages in the capital, Niamey.
“With demand rising, the solar market has been booming,” said Djibril Tata, a solar supplier. “For the past two years, demand remains high.”
Another supplier, Hilaire Houndegnon, noted that sales “more than doubled,” with 450 solar panels sold last year.
Niger’s Energy Minister, Haoua Amadou, confirmed the continued shortfall, saying the country’s infrastructure struggles to meet growing energy needs.
Experts credit the solar surge to improved lithium batteries and accessible Chinese-imported panels, now sold widely on the streets, helping both households and businesses survive the crisis.