Burkina faso Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in burkina faso, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Energy and Hyrdocarbons
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Burkina Faso struggles to meet rapidly increasing energy demand as only 26 percent of households have access to electricity. The country also has a high potential for solar energy. The Transition Authorities are actively mobilizing and seeking to leverage private financing through Private-Public Partnerships to address periodic electricity shortages and high energy costs.

Overview

The country is heavily reliant on imported thermal power and biomass. In addition, hydrocarbons remain one of the top import products, including LNG from the United States. The Transition Authorities’ national energy policy emphasizes diversification and expansion of renewable energy.

Table: U.S.-Burkina Faso Trade (US$, millions)

 

2022

2023

2024

2025 estimated

Total Exports from US

164.3

114.4

-

-

Total Imports from US

-

-

-

:—

Trade Surplus/Deficit

164.3

114.4

-

-

Source: Burkina Trade Statistical Report, 2023

 

Leading Sub-sectors

  • Imports of LNGs: There is strong potential for U.S. companies to support the development and modernization of the national petroleum company SONABHY’s infrastructure, including storage, distribution, and regasification facilities.

  • Solar Panel Manufacturing and Installation: The Transition Authorities are incentivizing solar energy projects, creating a market for U.S. companies.

  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): BESS technology is critical for grid stability and for integrating a higher share of intermittent renewables.

  • Off-grid Solutions: There is high potential for off-grid solar mini grids, particularly in underserved rural areas.

Opportunities

  • Projects funded by development banks, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank, offer significant opportunities for U.S. companies.

  • A new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement for a 150MW solar and 50MW BESS project is underway.

  • Tenders for solar parks with a total capacity of 330 megawatts are underway, including an initial phase of 50 megawatts and 10 megawatts/40 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage systems (BESS) aimed at the domestic market.

Resources

  • Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries (MEMC): This is the key government agency for this sector.

  • Société Nationale de l’Eléctricité du Burkina (SONABEL): The national power utility.