According to bank docments, the project objective is to increase renewable energy generation capacity and improve the operational performance of the electric utility.

The project has four components:

Component 1. Investment in Power Storage, PV, and System Upgrades (US$27.5 million IDA equivalent) 34. This component will finance solar PV power plants with battery storage in the three islands of the Comoros as well as system upgrades, rehabilitation, and automation to facilitate integration of solar power into the grid. It has three main subcomponents. Together, the addition of the PV project and battery storage will significantly enhance the performance of the Comorian power system by: (a) absorbing a larger amount of PV production during the day, thereby allowing for PV production to contribute to evening demand peaks (replacing thermal production), and (b) improving grid stability and therefore electricity service quality by reducing both frequency and duration of blackouts. The project will reduce fuel consumption by around 14 percent and facilitate further incorporation of renewable energy to reduce fuel consumption up to 35 percent.17 35.

Subcomponent 1.1. Solar PV plants in Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli (US$13.3 million IDA equivalent).

Subcomponent 1.2. Battery storage in Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli (US$9.7 million IDA equivalent).

Subcomponent 1.3. System upgrades, rehabilitation, and automation (US$3.5 million IDA equivalent).

Sub-component 1.4. Resettlement compensation (US$1 million IDA equivalent).

Component 2. SONELEC Commercial and Operational Recovery (US$ 8.5 million, of which US$7.5 million IDA equivalent and US$1 million SIDS DOCK Trust Fund) 41. This component will support the geographical expansion and enhancement of SONELEC’s existing management information system as well as the installation of advanced metering infrastructure (AMIs) across all customer groups. This component will benefit from US$1 million in funding from the SIDS DOCK. 42. Sub-component

Subcomponent 2.1. Geographical expansion and enhancements of SONELEC’s MIS (US$4.0 million IDA equivalent). 

Subcomponent 2.2. Installation of Advances Metering Infrastructure (AMI) (US$3.5 million IDA equivalent and US$1 million SIDS DOCK).

Component 3. Technical Assistance and Project Management (US$7 million of which US$5 million IDA equivalent; US$2 million SRMI) 44. This component will provide critical TA and project implementation support and capacity building to the implementing agencies as well as strengthen the overall capacity of the sector for increasing the capacity of renewable energy in the Comoros. This component will benefit from additional resources by the SRMI. 45.

Subcomponent 3.1. Project Coordination and improved renewable energy planning capacity for MEEH (US$0.8 million IDA equivalent and US$2 million SRMI).

Subcomponent 3.2. Project implementation support to SONELEC (US$3.5 million IDA equivalent).

Subcomponent 3.3. Technical assistance for financial management and improved financial reporting. (US$0.5 million IDA equivalent).

Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response (US$0 million) 49. A Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) with zero allocation may be used to contribute to an emergency response through the timely implementation of activities in response to an eligible national The World Bank Comoros Solar Energy Access Project (P177646) Page 23 of 57 emergency. This component will allow the GoC to request the World Bank to reallocate project funds in the event of an eligible emergency as defined in the CERC Annex of the Project Implementation Manual (PIM) that will be prepared. For the CERC to be activated and financing to be provided, the government will need to (i) submit a request letter for CERC activation and the evidence required to determine eligibility of the emergency, as defined in the CERC Annex, (ii) an emergency action plan, including emergency expenditures to be financed, and (iii) meet environmental and social requirements agreed to in the emergency action plan and environmental and social commitment plan. For the Comorian energy sector, emergency conditions may arise after extreme weather events including cyclones and flooding or economic disruption including fuel import shortages.

Justin Marie Bienvenu Beleoken Sanguen

Lara Born

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