Access to electricity has reached a new milestone in the Maevatanàna district. Inaugurated on September 18, two solar power plants now provide electricity to 548 households.
In Beanana, the photovoltaic plant has a capacity of 50 kilowatt-peak. It serves 216 households and 14 public institutions through a 3.835-kilometer network. The installation includes an 81.92 kilowatt-hour storage battery and a 40 kilovolt-ampere backup thermal generator, along with 28 public lighting points.
In Antsiafabositra, the plant has a capacity of 90 kilowatt-peak, powering 332 households and 17 public institutions. Its network spans 8.542 kilometers, featuring a 229.376 kilowatt-hour storage battery and a 62.5 kilovolt-ampere backup thermal generator, complemented by 56 public lighting points.
In total, the two infrastructures provide 140 kilowatt-peak of power and nearly 300 kilowatt-hours of storage capacity. The service is designed to operate 24/7, using a prepaid system tailored to local needs.
The arrival of electricity opens new opportunities for residents. In Antsiafabositra, 42 new economic activities are planned, while six are announced in Beanana. These activities will benefit from energy access to use electrical equipment, extend working hours, or develop new services.
“What we are inaugurating today is not just infrastructure. It is proof that it is possible to bring sustainable energy where it is needed most,” emphasized Jean-François Dubuisson, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Madagascar.
Essential services are also impacted, with 31 public facilities, including schools and health centers, benefiting from electrification. The 84 streetlights installed across both communes improve public space lighting, and an additional 25 solar streetlights were donated to the Maevatanàna district during the inauguration.
The project is part of the Integrated Financing for Sustainable Energy program, launched in 2022 and funded by the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund. It is supported by several UN agencies in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons and rural electrification stakeholders.
The financing relies on performance-based payments, a mechanism designed to reduce risks for private investors. Nationally, more than four million dollars in private investment have been mobilized through this initiative.
During the ceremony, the Minister of Energy and Hydrocarbons, Radonirina Lucas Rabearimanga, reiterated the government’s ambition to double the electricity access rate, with a priority on rural areas. “Our action aims to make energy a pillar of economic and social development, creating jobs for our youth,” he declared.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-21 05:53:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/maevatanana-les-mini-reseaux-solaires.html
