The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has deepened its collaboration with Ghana’s LMI Holdings, a top conglomerate, to propel clean energy production in the nation. The partnership will see the development of the largest private-sector-driven, utility-scale solar plant in West Africa, targeting improved energy access for companies in two of Ghana’s Special Industrial Zones.
Significant Investment in Clean Energy Development
IFC is investing $21 million as part of a $100 million loan for the development of a 150 MW solar power plant. This project will cater to businesses in LMI Holdings’ Tema and Dawa industrial zones. The first 100 MW phase finishes by October 2026, followed by a second phase adding 50 MW by June 2027.
The Solar For Industries program, once operational, will power 100+ food processing, cement, steel, textile, and light manufacturing enterprises. The solar power plant will avoid 120,000 metric tons of carbon emissions every year while providing stable, low-cost, and clean energy to all. The program will not only increase energy reliability but also save businesses money, promoting increased industrial development.
Kojo Botsio Aduhene, CEO of LMI Holdings, said, “A thousand-mile journey starts with a step. This is the start of our planned 1000MW solar farm – a feat we intend to achieve by 2032.”
Boosting Industrial Growth in Ghana
Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Regional Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, highlighted the importance of reliable, affordable clean energy in supporting industrial growth and economic development in Ghana. She emphasized the partnership as a sign of IFC’s commitment to private sector-led renewable energy, boosting investment, competitiveness, and jobs.
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Supporting Ghana’s Renewable Energy Targets
The investment helps support Ghana’s 2030 Renewable Energy Master Plan ambition of 10% renewable energy contribution. The development of the IFC Ghana Solar Power Plant is a significant step in reaching these sustainability and energy goals.
Additionally, this project comes after a long-term history of cooperation between IFC and LMI Holdings. Along with the IFC Ghana Solar Power Plant, the IFC backed Africa’s largest rooftop solar project (16.82 MW) in Tema Free Zone and funded a water treatment plant in Dawa.