Central African Republic: UAE's Global South Utilities Inaugurates 50mw Solar Plant in Central African Republic

What the report says

Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities (GSU) has inaugurated a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Sakaï, in the Central African Republic, according to Horn Diplomat as republished by AllAfrica. The company described the project as its largest infrastructure undertaking in the country and said it would lift national electricity generation capacity by more than 60%.

The facility combines solar generation with a 15-megawatt-hour battery storage system, which GSU says is intended to improve grid stability and broaden access to dependable electricity. The project reportedly uses more than 80,000 solar panels and 156 inverters, and is expected to provide power for more than 300,000 households while reducing carbon emissions.

GSU Managing Director and CEO Ali Alshimmari said at the inauguration that the project reflects a partnership-based effort delivered in 10 months. The ceremony was attended by Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, government officials, and project partners. The company said the plant could support hospitals, schools, businesses and industry by easing power shortages and encouraging investment.

The report places the project within broader UAE-Africa economic ties, including a bilateral economic partnership agreement signed in March 2025. More generally, it also fits a wider trend of Gulf investment in African renewable energy and infrastructure, as governments across the continent seek more generation capacity and better electricity access.