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Burkina Faso has abundant natural phosphate deposits. Since the 1960s, work has been under way with a view to using the phosphates to remedy the phosphorus deficiency in the soils. The deposits at Kodjari, in particular, are said to contain 30 million tonnes of reserves. So far, however, there has not been any large scale production of phosphate from this site.

The Burkina energy context is characterized by the population's predominant use of biomass energy; the country's dependence on fossil fuels; poor and inequitable access to modern forms of energy; and the very low level of development of endogenous renewable energy sources. However, since the adoption of the National Economic and Social Development Programme (PNDES), special emphasis has been placed on renewable energy with the inauguration in 2016 of a hybrid photovoltaic/diesel power station ("Flexy énergie" project); the construction of two solar power stations planned for 2017; and the electrification by photovoltaic solar system of the social and community infrastructure of 59 rural localities. A new energy law was adopted in April 2017 (section 4.3.3).

The electrification rate remains low, at around 19%, with 60% in urban areas and 3% in rural ones. Load shedding and random power cuts are often used to ration supplies. The total installed power of Burkina Faso's generating plant amounts to 250 MW, of which 32 MW is provided by hydroelectric and 218 MW by thermal power stations. A large proportion of the electricity consumed in Burkina Faso is imported, in particular from Côte d'Ivoire, but also from Ghana and Togo (Table 4.4). This shortage of electricity acts as a drag on the country's economic activity.

Table 4.4 Electricity production and imports, 2011 2015
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Nominal installed power (MW) 261 298 247 285 325
Total energy produced (GWh) 530 625 731 870 999
Thermal energy 448 528 625 780 906
Hydroelectric energy 82 97 106 91 94
Energy imported (GWh) 495 515 532 488 443
Imports from Côte d'Ivoire 449 469 482 435 382
Imports from Ghana 44 44 48 51 58
Imports from Togo 1 2 2 3 3
Total energy produced and imported 1,025 1,140 1,262 1,359 1,442
Number of SONABEL customers 401,476 436,250 472,441 508,499 544,825
Power stations installed by the FDE 26 26 36

SONABEL, a State owned enterprise, remains almost the only generator of electricity in Burkina Faso, although self generation has been allowed since 2012. Its generating resources consist of 24 diesel fuelled thermal power stations and four hydroelectric power stations. SONABEL also owns the transmission and distribution network.

Within WAEMU, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali are subject to the Common Environmental Improvement Policy (PCAE) whose objectives are to reverse the trends of "deterioration and reduction of natural resources", improving life environments and maintaining biodiversity

The Common Environmental Improvement Policy (PCAE) envisages the implementation of appropriate modes of production, consumption and economic use of natural resources, in particular through the promotion of renewable energy sources

Within WAEMU, Regulation 07/2007/CM/UEMOA of 6 April 2007 calls Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali to comply, among others, with IPCC and Cartagena Protocol

Within WAEMU, import licensing and prohibitions are applied to ozone-depleting substances and equipment containing them in compliance with the Montreal Protocol

Within WAEMU, regional standards are developed according to the needs established by the national standardization bodies, including relevance to the environment and trade