The Sahofika project appears to be breaking through a deadlock. A delegation from Madagascar's Sovereign Fund visited the site for a firsthand assessment. According to information shared on August 7 by local radio AZ Radio, the chairman of the board of Madagascar's Sovereign Fund (FSM), Andriniaina Raharinomena, its general director, Beni Xavier Rasolofonirina, and the elected deputy for Antanifotsy district, Narson Rafidimanana, flew over the site by helicopter. This on-site visit demonstrates renewed interest in this hydroelectric project, classified as a priority by the government. After years of stagnation, the Sahofika project could now take further steps toward realization.

Launched following an international call for tenders in 2015-2016, it aims for an initial capacity of approximately 192 megawatts, expandable over time, making it the country's largest power plant. The electricity produced will be fed into Antananarivo's interconnected network and supply Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, and Toamasina beyond. For an island where power cuts are daily occurrences and thermal energy weighs heavily on costs, the stakes are both economic and political.

The project is managed by NEHO (Nouvelle Énergie Hydroélectrique de l'Onive). Originally, the project relied on a consortium with strong French components, built through official visits between Paris and Antananarivo. Construction firm Eiffage was to conduct studies and build infrastructure, while Eranove, a Franco-African utility based in Paris, was to manage operations for 25 years. Themis was responsible for financing. In 2023, a first upheaval occurred with Eiffage's withdrawal from the consortium.

The revival came from the State. In May 2025, Madagascar's Sovereign Fund acquired 49% of NEHO's capital. A move that secures the structure and reassures lenders, notably the African Development Bank leading the way, alongside the European Union. Eranove remains committed and remains one of the project's main industrial pillars.

On the ground, signals show momentum is building. Since June 2, 2026, work on the access road has begun. The 62.7-kilometer project between Ilempona and Belanitra bridge in Antanifotsy district has been entrusted to Colas Madagascar, a subsidiary of the Colas group itself backed by Bouygues. The first twenty kilometers are progressing, with completion targeted for June 2027.