A significant step has been taken in the fight against energy poverty in Senegal. The Senegalese Rural Electrification Agency (ASER) has concluded a memorandum of understanding with the French company SAGEMCOM for the electrification of 1,000 villages. This partnership marks a revision of the initial project which initially planned the electrification of 706 localities.
The commercial contract, signed on October 24, 2023 and accompanied by a financing agreement approved on February 14, 2024, was initially estimated at 51.8 billion FCFA. Through a proactive approach as part of the rationalization of public spending advocated by the new state authorities, ASER has “undertaken an in-depth review of this project”, underlined its CEO Jean Micheal Séne.
This revision made it possible to obtain notable progress, in particular: Increase in the number of electrified localities: The number increased from 706 to 1,000, targeting approximately 350,000 inhabitants (or 50,000 households). Strengthening the local share: This now reaches 50%, respecting the ceiling authorized by the OECD in the context of buyer credit financing.
Strengthened monitoring: Integration of an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), recruitment of a supervision and control office, and establishment of an institutional monitoring framework.
Local training: Inclusion of work-study students to promote skills transfer.
In addition, financial adjustments were made, including the “removal of international transport and transit costs”, as well as the abandonment of the construction of electricity backbones, initially planned for “localities”.
This redevelopment was made possible thanks to the flexibility of SAGEMCOM and the determination of ASER to optimize the allocated resources. The two entities demonstrated a strong desire for collaboration to guarantee the success of the project under the best conditions.
For the Director General of ASER, this revised partnership illustrates the agency’s ability to adapt to national priorities while ensuring rigorous project management. “This project is a major step toward our goal of reducing energy disparities between urban and rural areas,” he said.
This major project is part of a global dynamic aimed at achieving universal access to electricity in Senegal by 2030. With this redevelopment, ASER and SAGEMCOM demonstrate that it is possible to combine economic efficiency , sustainable development, and social impact.
The work, which will begin soon, is eagerly awaited by the beneficiary communities, who see this project as a real opportunity for economic and social development.
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