Senegal’s Senelec Assumes Control of 366MW Gas Plant

Senegal’s state-owned electricity utility, Senelec, has acquired full ownership of West African Energy (WAE), taking control of the country’s largest combined-cycle gas-fired power plant with a capacity of 366 megawatts.

The acquisition, which gives Senelec 100 per cent equity in WAE, is aimed at accelerating the completion and operationalisation of the facility, which is expected to supply nearly 25 per cent of Senegal’s electricity demand upon completion.

In a statement issued on April 25, the utility said the move underscores its commitment to strengthening electricity supply and ensuring energy security across the country.

The power plant, financed by a consortium of domestic private investors, is currently about 97.5 per cent complete, with major milestones already achieved, including open-cycle commissioning and initial synchronisation with the national grid in April 2025.

Senelec said final commissioning in combined-cycle mode will depend on the availability of gas supply. The takeover follows a period of delays caused by governance disputes among shareholders and financing challenges, which had slowed progress on the project.

However, a state-led mediation process helped stabilise governance structures, secure funding, and ultimately paved the way for Senelec’s full acquisition of the company.

Beyond increasing generation capacity, the project is expected to strengthen Senegal’s energy independence and support its transition to cleaner energy sources.

The plant forms a key component of the country’s “Gas-to-Power” strategy, which prioritises the use of domestic gas resources for electricity generation as a lower-carbon alternative to conventional fuels.

It also aligns with Senegal’s long-term development blueprint, Agenda Sénégal 2050, which seeks to drive sustainable economic growth and infrastructure development. Senelec noted that the acquisition reinforces its central role in transforming the national energy sector and expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity.

Senegal is targeting universal electricity access by 2029 under its Energy Compact plan, with access rates projected to grow by about 2.9 per cent annually.

According to the International Energy Agency, the country is on track to achieve full electrification ahead of the 2030 deadline set under Sustainable Development Goal 7.