The Central African Republic has inaugurated a 50-megawatt solar power plant near the capital, Bangui. The facility is expected to increase national electricity generation by more than 60%. Built by Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities, the facility includes 15 megawatt-hours of battery storage and is projected to supply electricity to more than 300,000 households. The plant was completed in just 10 months with the help of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, which provided concessional financing. The project represents a significant expansion for a country where only 18.2% of the population had access to electricity in 2024, according to World Bank data. GSU has previously developed a similar 50-megawatt solar facility in neighboring Chad. The new plant comes as the government seeks solutions to persistent energy shortages.