The West African Infrastructure Organisation S.A. (WAIO S.A.) foresees the installation of a biomass-fuelled power plant in the city of Kandi in the north of Benin.

The country has an urgent need for increased energy supply. This need is a direct result of the successful economic development projects undertaken by the country during the last decade. The project should allow reducing the energy dependency of the country and demonstrate the possibility for Benin to develop its renewable energy resources.

The used technology is based on the valorisation of dry biomass resources such as agricultural residues into electricity and heat through gasification and pyrolysis. Gasification through pyrolysis has greater efficiency than the direct combustion of wood fuels.

The project will benefit from the support of NOVIS GmbH, a German company that will ensure the technical management of the project during the first five years and train the employees in the operation of the plant and maintenance of the system. After the execution of the pilot phase in Kandi, the firm WAIO envisages developing similar biomass projects in the country in order to meet the electricity needs and reduce the dependency on energy.