Comoros Solar Energy Access Project

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The AF introduces the following changes to CSEAP: • Under component 3, a new subcomponent on technical assistance for improving SONELEC’s performance amounting to US$0.2 million will be added and funded by the AF. This subcomponent will continue to support sector reform, specifically by funding a study on improving SONELEC's performance. This study will focus on (i) a technical audit of operations (production and distribution), (ii) updating the Performance Improvement Plan, (iii) procurement and installation of fuel gauges at thermal power plants, and (iv) a study on restructuring options for SONELEC. A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) for SONELEC was developed in 2015, but its implementation has been very limited. Given the significant operational challenges currently faced by the public utility, the PIP needs to be updated. Additionally, the low efficiency of SONELEC’s generators suggests significant fuel theft due to other uses of diesel. The completion of these studies is being confirmed with the Government to be part of prior actions for a series of DPOs.• A new Component 5: Electrification of El Maarouf hospital amounting to US$6.9 million will also be added, with US$4.8 million funded by the AF. This new component comprises two sub-components:  Subcomponent 5.1: Construction of a solar PV system (US$6.4 million). This subcomponent will finance the construction of a solar PV system with a capacity of 2200KW with a storage battery of 2MWh for the new El-Maarouf hospital. The Bank committed to supporting this hospital operationalization, including the provision of energy. This project funded the technical study on its electrification, which identified three sources of electricity supply: (i) a solar PV system with a capacity of 2200KW with a storage battery of 2MWh, (ii) the SONELEC electrical grid, and (i) three emergency generators already delivered by the company that built the hospital. The parent CSEAP project was able to allocate USD 2.1 million to finance the first phase of the solar PV system, consisting of a 1000KW capacity with a 1MWh storage battery. The second phase, amounting to USD 4.3 million, will be financed by the additional funding.  Subcomponent 5.2: Acquisition of 3 transformers for connection to the SONELEC electrical grid (US$0.5 million). To connect the hospital to the Voidjou thermal power plant, it is necessary to acquire three 1600kVA transformers along with the associated accessories, reinforce the poles, and install the cables which will be funded by the additional financing.