The Director General of Société nationale de l’électricité des Comores (Sonelec), Moumini Soilahoudine, recently met with journalists to discuss the company's challenges and plans. He explained that the high cost of electricity, set at 198 francs comoriens per kilowatt-hour, is a significant burden for households. Soilahoudine acknowledged that the price is high compared to the purchasing power of Comorians, but noted that production costs are even higher, around 300 francs comoriens per kilowatt-hour.
Soilahoudine attributed the high production costs to the reliance on diesel fuel and the need to support the company's financial losses. He stated that the current tariff has not been revised since June 8, 2022, despite inflation and fluctuations in oil prices. The Sonelec director general emphasized that the company is working to improve its financial situation and respond to consumer concerns. He highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability, stating that as a state-owned company, Sonelec must be accountable to the people.
The meeting also touched on the issue of meter functionality, with Soilahoudine clarifying that meters only record consumption, not determine prices. He explained that electricity costs depend on appliance power and usage duration. The discussion also covered the progress made in improving the energy mix, with a notable increase in renewable energy from 9% in 2024 to nearly 20% in 2026. This growth is largely due to partnerships with private companies that install and operate their own power plants.
Soilahoudine noted that while the increased use of renewable energy has reduced costs, it has not yet achieved the desired financial balance for Sonelec. He estimated that the share of solar energy in the energy mix would need to reach around 60% to achieve this goal. The director general also emphasized the importance of developing geothermal energy, which he believes is a vital component of a sustainable energy future for Comoros.
Geothermal energy has significant potential in Comoros, with estimated reserves of around 45 MW. However, the project is still in the resource confirmation phase, and significant investment is required to develop the necessary infrastructure. Soilahoudine acknowledged the technical and financial challenges but expressed optimism about the project's prospects. He noted that the development of geothermal energy would require the construction of a power plant capable of converting steam into electricity.
Another significant challenge facing Sonelec is the need to upgrade the electricity transmission infrastructure. The current network on Ngazidja island is based on medium-voltage lines, which are insufficient for large-scale geothermal energy production. Soilahoudine estimated that nearly 300 kilometers of high-voltage lines would be needed to support the project. Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in the potential of geothermal energy to transform Comoros' energy landscape.
Soilahoudine concluded by emphasizing his commitment to addressing the challenges facing Sonelec and developing a sustainable energy future for Comoros. He highlighted the importance of continued investment in renewable energy and infrastructure development. The director general's presentation provided valuable insights into the complexities of Comoros' energy sector and the efforts being made to address them.
Key points
- Sonelec aims to increase the share of solar energy in the energy mix to around 60%.
