Detailed Feasibility Study of the Energy-efficiency Project for the SAMEX Group

The support program for investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy in West Africa, better known as “SUNREF West Africa”, is a 3-year initiative undertaken by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). It primarily targets Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo. The program targets the industrial sectors (particularly the agri-food industry), as well as the commercial and residential sectors. Among the activities planned by the program, the detailed feasibility studies of various clean-energy projects focused on in those target countries are an important component, especially by implementing the Fonds d’aide à la préparation des projets (the Fund for Assistance with Project Preparation, or “FAPP”).   The firm SAMEX, which is the promoter of Togo’s largest supermarket chain, Le Champion, is one of the companies for which it was decided to conduct a detailed feasibility study on improving its facilities’ energy efficiency and building photovoltaic solar power plants to supply power to four of its sites.

The assignment awarded to Econoler specifically involved providing the firm SAMEX with assistance in conducting the detailed technical and financial feasibility study on the energy-saving measures recommended by the preliminary study conducted in March 2016. These measures include:  

• Replacing the conventional air-conditioners by more-efficient inverter-type of air-conditioners;
• Replacing the fluorescent lamps by LED ones;
• Improving the management of office work automation;
• Installing three solar systems with a combined installed capacity of 400 kWc to supply power for the sites’ own use.

  For each recommended measure, Econoler assessed its achievable energy savings, the total amount of investment, as well as an analysis of its financial return.   The study conducted by Econoler allowed SAMEX to be granted the financing agreement for the energy-efficiency projects assessed.