In brief
- Somaliland Sun reported on 12 July 2020 that USAID's GEEL project and Golis Energy are working on solar power in Somaliland.
- The report describes a cost-sharing arrangement: USAID 30%, beneficiaries 50%, Golis Energy 20%.
- No verified update on the project's status has been published since that date.
On 12 July 2020, Somaliland Sun reported that USAID's Growth, Enterprise, Employment, and Livelihoods (GEEL) project was undertaking a renewable energy initiative in Somaliland, with local company Golis Energy supporting the effort. The report described the project as providing solar power for household and commercial use, and as aiming to reduce reliance on imports and increase jobs in regions recovering from conflict and natural disasters.
The article stated that USAID contributes 30% of the overall project cost, beneficiaries contribute 50%, and Golis Energy provides the remaining 20%. It did not give a total project value in any currency.
The report quoted beneficiary Abdi Asad as saying he and others were grateful for cheap and sufficient solar electricity. Somaliland Sun also stated that since Golis Energy entered the market a couple of years earlier, Somaliland had seen a large increase in households, companies, and institutions switching from machine-generated to solar electricity.
However, the Somaliland Sun piece does not establish what has happened since 12 July 2020. It contains no information on project location, capacity, number of connections, or timeline. There is no primary award or agreement document from USAID or Golis Energy. The publication did not provide data on job creation or import reduction, and no verification of the claim that rural areas previously without power are now fully electrified.
No subsequent update on this project's status has been identified in the public record.
Frequently asked questions
What did USAID and Golis Energy announce for renewable energy in Somaliland?
Somaliland Sun reported on 12 July 2020 that USAID's GEEL project was undertaking a renewable energy initiative in Somaliland with Golis Energy, providing solar power for household and commercial use.
What is missing from the announcement?
The report did not provide a project name, location, capacity, number of connections, timeline, total cost, or any primary agreement document.
Has there been any verified progress since July 12, 2020?
No subsequent update on the project's status has been identified in the public record.
Sources
Photo: European Space Agency, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo, via Wikimedia Commons
