The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced that the Gassi and Lamadji hybrid solar power projects in Chad, developed by Qair, have reached financial close and received their first disbursement. The development marks progress for the Bank’s Desert to Power and Mission 300 initiatives, which aim to expand electricity access and accelerate renewable energy deployment across the Sahel.
The projects comprise 30 MWp of solar power generation capacity combined with 8 MWh of battery energy storage. Located in Gassi and Lamadji, the plants are being developed by Qair as among the first independent power producer projects in Chad. They are expected to strengthen the country’s national electricity grid under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Tchadelec, Chad’s national electricity utility.
The achievement of financial close has unlocked a €37.9 million financing package structured and mobilized by the African Development Bank Group. The financing includes support from several development partners, including Proparco, the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
An €8 million Partial Risk Guarantee, jointly provided by the African Development Fund (ADF) and the GCF, forms a key part of the financing structure. The guarantee supports the letter of credit mechanism that secures Tchadelec’s payment obligations under the PPA. This structure is designed to reduce investment risks and improve the bankability of renewable energy projects in countries facing financial and climate-related challenges.
Wale Shonibare, Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation at the African Development Bank, said that reaching financial close and making the first financing disbursement demonstrates the potential of the Desert to Power and Mission 300 initiatives when development finance institutions and private investors work together.
He highlighted that the combination of AfDB financing with support from Proparco, SEFA and the GCF is helping unlock renewable energy projects in underserved African markets while supporting reliable and affordable electricity access.
With financial close now achieved, construction of the Gassi and Lamadji plants can move forward. Once completed, the projects will contribute additional renewable generation and battery storage capacity to Chad’s electricity system.
The developments are part of the broader Desert to Power and Mission 300 efforts to expand electricity access across Africa. The Desert to Power programme targets 10,000 MW of solar generation capacity across the Sahel, while supporting climate resilience and economic development in vulnerable communities.
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