Benin: Mini-grid inaugurated and ready to boost energy access

Martine Padonou and her family depended on stoves and solar lamps for many years.

Electricity supply was sporadic, and usually of low quality. Connection costs were also beyond reach.

“We had to ask one of our distant neighbours to share his supply with us because we couldn’t afford the connection. It wasn’t easy at all,” she says.

“There were frequent brownouts and almost constant power cuts, to the point where the elderly lady who lives with me hit her head one day following a power cut. She was very ill and it cost a lot of money to look after her. Fortunately, the electrification project thought of us and now we have a permanent supply with our own meter. Thanks be to God.”