The AfDB has approved a loan of $220m for the second phase of the Ouarzazate solar complex project that will allow the solar farm to develop two power stations with a total capacity of 350MW. This will give an average annual output of about 1,100GWh.
The project is part of the Moroccan Solar Energy Programme, which aims to develop minimum capacity of 2GW by 2020 in order to secure power supplies for the population and improve the economy.
Alex Rugamba, director of the AfDB Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department, said: "The project is one of the innovative developments in the energy sector supported by the bank, based on the technology used and the financial arrangements with the support of the Climate Investment Funds, namely a public-private partnership supported by several donors."
This is the second project funded by the AfDB at the Ouarzazate solar complex. Work began on the first 160MW solar power station in 2013 and is due to be completed in 2015.