Djibouti Inaugurates First Hydroelectric Plant to Advance Green Energy Transition

DJIBOUTI CITY, July 2, 2026 - Djibouti has taken a major step toward sustainable energy development with the inauguration of the “Hydroforce” hydroelectric power plant at PK20, a pioneering project designed to support the energy transition of the water sector and promote renewable energy-based industrial innovation. The facility was inaugurated by the Minister of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, Livestock and Marine Resources, Radwan Abdillahi Bahdon, in the presence of French Ambassador Jérôme Bresson, the Director General of the National Office for Water and Sanitation (ONEAD), Mohamed Fouad, representatives of development partners, and several technical and financial stakeholders. Developed by French company SOC, a subsidiary of the NGE Group, with support from PAM-Saint Gobain for the supply of pipes and equipment, the project benefited from partial financing through a grant from the French Treasury under the FASEP program. The Hydroforce plant relies on an innovative technology that recovers hydraulic pressure from water transported from the Ethiopian highlands. This energy is used to operate a turbine connected to a generator capable of producing 200 kVA of continuous power, equivalent to approximately 160 kWh. Thanks to this system, the PK20 facility has achieved energy self-sufficiency through renewable electricity generated continuously, reducing dependence on external energy sources and supporting more sustainable water management operations. Beyond electricity production, the project is expected to become the foundation for a broader “100% Green” technology hub focused on innovation, industrial development, and the production of high-value-added goods and services based on renewable energy. Among the first planned initiatives are a sodium chloride production unit, aimed at reducing dependence on imported products used in drinking water treatment, and a laboratory dedicated to producing ultra-purified water for healthcare facilities. The project has also strengthened technical cooperation between ONEAD and SOC, with both partners planning a skills-transfer program to train national technicians in the design, construction, and maintenance of hydraulic infrastructure. The inauguration of Hydroforce represents a significant milestone in Djibouti’s efforts to modernize its infrastructure, expand renewable energy solutions, and promote a sustainable development model driven by innovation, technology transfer, and environmental responsibility.