Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi on Wednesday launched solar power plant which has the capacity to generate a total of 20 megawatts of electricity.
According to a statement from the presidency said that renewable energy project is to provide electricity to 80 percent of population living in the capital Hargeisa.
The project is carried out by Sompower, a private electricity providing company in Hargeisa.
The project is located in the north of Hargeisa known as Bacaado.
It is estimated that the project was spent up to $20,000,000 and it lasted for two years in regard to the accomplishment.
The ground breaking event saw the attendance of several cabinet members, political party leaders, shareholders of Sompower which has implemented the solar plant, business traders and other guests.
It is expected that the project will create jobs and reduce the dependency on electricity generated from machines run on fuel which is costly.
Sompower CEO, Hon. Abdilahi Awad Ali, spoke in lengthy on the efforts that the firm put in order to see its realization. He underscored that the objective behind the project is to find electricity generated from solar panels and to reduce on the cost spent on electricity which is skyrocketing in Somaliland on daily day basis.
Other shareholders have reiterated the need to emulate and implement such projects in other provinces in Somaliland so as to protect the environment.
Both the chair of the chamber of commerce, Honorable Jamal Aidid and Ms. Adna Aden both congratulated on the firm for carrying out such a project which is quite beneficial to the public and further urged to continue.
Both Wadani chair, Honorable Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi alias Irro and general secretary of Justice and Welfare party-UCID, Hon. Ahmed Hirsi Duale congratulated on the firm for implementing the solar generated electricity plant in Somaliland.
They further called on the firm to lower the electricity price incurred by the clients as the cost of generating electricity has reduced since the company has resorted to the use of solar energy.
The energy minister from Somaliland, Honorable Jama Mohamud Egal, speaking at the ground breaking ceremony has said that the project is one of the priorities of the incumbent Somaliland president.
He highlighted that objective is to minimize the banking of electricity generated from fuel run machines. The minister has disclosed that the ministry will be working the creation of laws that will govern the solar energy in Somaliland.
The Head of State has felicitated the firm for launching such project which is vital for the populace.
He urged to continue the efforts. He said that the only avenue that is open for the country to make progress is to have an open market.