Ouagadougou, July 29, 2025 – Independent renewable energy company Qair announces today it has secured a €17.2 million loan package to finance its 18 MW solar energy project in Burkina Faso, near Dédougou. The financing was arranged by FMO – the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, which committed €11.2 million in senior and subordinated debts, as well as an additional €6 million in concessional financing from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), a multi-donor facility managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Listed as a priority project in Burkina Faso’s national energy roadmap, the Dédougou Solar Power Plan is backed by a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Société Nationale d’Électricité du Burkina Faso (SONABEL), and a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with the State of Burkina Faso.
As its second development in Burkina Faso, the project positions Qair as the most established IPP in the market. Once operational, the plant will significantly contribute to the country’s energy diversification strategy, reduce the cost of electricity, and support national goals to increase access to reliable, clean energy.
“We are pleased to support Qair in advancing with this important project in Burkina Faso. The Dedougou Solar Power Plant is a demonstration of the relentless efforts from SEFA, Qair, and FMO to persist with this important project despite the adversities caused by COVID-19. This project showcases development finance at its best and is the fourth solar power project arranged by FMO in Burkina Faso,” said Marnix Monsfort, Director of FMO’s Energy Department.
“The Dédougou Solar PV project marks a significant milestone for Burkina Faso and the broader Sahel region. As a key contribution to the Desert-to-Power initiative, it demonstrates the transformative nature of harnessing solar energy to drive inclusive and sustainable development,” said Dr. Daniel Schroth, the Bank’s Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. “The catalytic support from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) was instrumental in unlocking this private sector-led project. This project demonstrates our commitment to enhancing energy security across the Sahel region.”
“ This new financing from FMO and SEFA marks a significant milestone in Qair’s journey in Burkina Faso. We are deeply grateful to both institutions for their continued trust and support, which enable us to deliver impactful renewable energy infrastructure in the region. After commissioning our first 24 MW solar plant in Zano in 2023, this second project in Dédougou reflects our expanding footprint and aligns with Qair’s long-term strategy to accelerate the energy transition across Africa” said Abdoulaye Toure, CFO at Qair Africa.
This new initiative also contributes to the African Development Bank’s regional Desert-to-Power initiative in Sahel, which seeks to unlock 10 GW of solar power capacity across the region by 2030—driving climate resilience, economic opportunity, and energy security.
About FMO
FMO is the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. As a leading impact investor, FMO supports sustainable private sector growth in developing countries and emerging markets by investing in ambitious projects and entrepreneurs. FMO believes that a strong private sector leads to economic and social development and has a 50+ year proven track-record in empowering entrepreneurs to make local economies more inclusive, productive, resilient and sustainable. FMO focuses on three sectors that have high development impact: Agribusiness, Food & Forestry, Energy, and Financial Institutions. With a total committed portfolio of EUR ~15 billion spanning over 85 countries, FMO is one of the larger bilateral private sector development banks globally. For more information: please visit www.fmo.nl
About the AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.afdb.org
About SEFA
SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and the M300. For more information, please visit: www.afdb.org/sefa
About Qair in Africa
With more than 15 years presence on the continent, and teams established across North, Central and West Africa as well as the Indian Ocean, Qair operates 65 MW of installed capacity in Africa and develops a robust pipeline of of over 2 GW spanning solar, wind, and hybrid technologies to address the specific challenges of each region.
By combining technical innovation with deep local engagement, Qair aims to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable electricity while fostering local employment, training, and sustainable economic growth across the continent.
More information on Africa.qair.energy
About Qair
Qair is an independent renewable energy company developing, financing, building, and operating solar, onshore and offshore wind, hydroelectric, tidal energy, energy from waste, renewable hydrogen production and storage projects.
With more than 1 GW of capacity in operation, the group’s 600 employees are developing a portfolio pipeline of 30 GW in 20 countries across Europe, Latin America and Africa. Our ambition is to become an independent leader in responsible energy.
For media inquiries, please contact:
- Media Relations : press@qair.energy | +33 (0)1 79 35 67 11