SONABEL
Stock performance
History
The Société Nationale d'Électricité du Burkina (SONABEL) was established in its current form in 1995, succeeding earlier state electricity companies. It has been expanding solar generation, including large plants near Ouagadougou, to reduce reliance on expensive diesel and imports.
Business model
SONABEL generates electricity from thermal and solar plants, imports a significant share of its power from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana through regional interconnections, and distributes it across the country.
Market position
SONABEL is Burkina Faso's state-owned national electricity utility and its representative in the West African Power Pool.
Country impact
Access to electricity in Burkina Faso remains low, especially in rural areas, and SONABEL's reliance on imported fuel and electricity leaves supply vulnerable to price shocks and regional disruptions.