Canada’s Windiga Energy Inc., an independent power producer recently signed a $50-million contract to build a solar power plant in Zina, Burkina Faso in a bid to put several rural communities on a reliable power supply.
The deal was signed between the government of Canada and Burkina Faso and Canada is the largest foreign investor in Burkina Faso, a priority market under Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan.
Windiga Energy is headquartered in Montréal and employs eight people there and six in West Africa and is part of part of the Government of Canada’s pro-trade plan to support Canadian businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, seeking to explore opportunities in new markets.
“We are committed to creating the right conditions for Canadian businesses, especially our small and medium-sized businesses, compete, succeed and expand internationally. Our government will continue to support Canadian companies as they create jobs, as part of our government’s most ambitious pro-trade, pro-export plan in Canadian history,” said Ed Fast, Canada’s Minister of International Trade.
With operations in Ghana, Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso, Windiga Energy was founded in 2010 and focuses on renewable energy facilities on the African continent. Since 1995, the firm has overseen an investment of more than U.S. $ 500 million in the region.
“We are very pleased with the support we received from both governments, which allowed us to conclude a strategic agreement to build a major—22 solar MW—renewable energy project.” said Benoît Lasalle, President and CEO of Windiga Energy Inc.