The Manjarisoa solar park, which never became operational due to a lack of batteries, has been abandoned. The site will soon host the Mahajanga fish market. The solar project, launched under former President Andry Rajoelina at the former FITIM textile mill site in Manjarisoa, has been officially scrapped. The land will now house a fish market, and vendors currently located at the FITIM bridge, along with other fishmongers in the city, will be relocated there soon.
Thousands of solar panels installed on the site over the past year are currently being dismantled to be reinstalled elsewhere. The Special Delegation President of Mahajanga decided to repurpose the space to support the local fishing industry. A ritual ceremony was held with traditional leaders and the Prince of Boeny to ‘purify’ the site.
Launched in 2025, the project originally aimed to build a 3-megawatt photovoltaic plant to reduce daytime power outages in Mahajanga and stabilize the Jirama network. However, the project never went into service while waiting for the essential battery storage system, which was planned to be located in Amborovy. Local economic operators continue to lament the chronic power outages that cause significant economic losses and damage to equipment, especially during the peak tourist season.
The photovoltaic park was intended to complement the Marolaka thermal power plant, but the project never materialized. In Mahajanga, electricity demand is estimated at 17 MW, and access to reliable power and water remains a major challenge for residents.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-29 06:08:45 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/mahajanga-le-site-solaire-de-manjarisoa.html