EDF has signed an agreement to develop, build, and operate a 120MW hydroelectric dam in Madagascar. The signing took place during the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Béatrice Buffon, EDF Group Executive Director and CEO of EDF Renewables, signed the agreement with Amine Hiridjee, co-CEO of AXIAN Group, and Demba Diallo, Africa50 Development Director. The project, the Volobe dam, will be located in Tamatave, in the northeast of Madagascar.
The Volobe dam is considered a priority infrastructure project by the Malagasy government. It is expected to produce 750GWh of electricity per year, representing about a third of the country’s current electricity production. The project aims to help decarbonise Madagascar’s electricity supply and strengthen its energy security.
The project has backing from the Malagasy government, international donors, and a guarantee from the World Bank. It is being developed according to high environmental and social standards.
Under the agreement, EDF will hold a 37.5% stake in the project company, Compagnie Générale d’Hydroélectricité de Volobe (CGHV), alongside AXIAN Group (37.5%) and Africa50 (25%). EDF will manage the technical aspects of the project, leveraging its 70 years of experience in hydroelectric facilities to oversee both the development and operation phases.
The Volobe dam is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2030. Madagascar’s national water and electricity company, JIRAMA, will then have access to competitively priced electricity, expected to supply around two million people as demand for energy grows.
Commenting on the agreement, Béatrice Buffon said: “I am delighted to see EDF’s teams applying their experience in managing complex industrial projects to develop the Volobe hydroelectric project, which will provide decarbonised, reliable and competitive electricity. This project illustrates EDF’s vocation to support the energy transition of its public and private customers, in partnership with leading players and with the support of international donors.”
