Project Background

Abudwak City, the largest city in Galmudug State of Somalia, has largely been spared regional conflict and insurgency, and is home to the highest number of internally displaced persons in Galmudug State. As a result of relative peace and stability, the city has seen an influx of humanitarian agencies and a resurgence of the local economy.

Less than 30% of the population in Abudwak City has access to electricity. Energy developer Dayah Electric Power Company (DEPCO) currently owns and operates a diesel-powered mini-grid in Abudwak City, which it is converting to a solar-plus-storage hybrid system. The new solar power plant will reduce reliance on diesel-powered generators, increasing the number of household and SME connections.

DEPCO began its operations in 2012 to generate and distribute power to the residents of Abudwak City.

The system is expected to be commissioned in 2022

Community profile

Abudwak City is located along the Ethiopia-Somalia border, 600km northwest of Mogadishu. It is the main urban center in the region and is a growing metropolis of 125,000 people. The economy is dependent on pastoralism and is gradually diversifying to the service industry and light manufacturing.

Role of P-REC and project impacts

Revenue from the sale of P-RECs will support the procurement, installation, and operation of streetlights across Abudwak City in order to enhance security and enable small- and medium-size businesses to operate after sundown, further bolstering the city’s micro-economy and bringing significant benefits to the population. In particular, streetlights will have a positive impact on women, who will be able to walk at night more safely at night and without fear of violence.

This project is expected to contribute to the following SDGs: