French utility company ENGIE, together with investment partners Meridiam consortium and Fonsis, has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Senegalese off-taker Senelec for two solar projects in Senegal.
The projects, which have a combined capacity of 60MW, will be developed by the Senegalese government and the International Finance Corporation.
They form part of Senegal’s Scaling Solar initiative, which aims to improve access to electricity.
The projects, which are located in the Kaolack region and Kaël in the Touba region, will be managed and developed by ENGIE.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ENGIE said the signing of the PPA’s cements the company’s commitment to providing clean and competitive power to the Senegalese population.
CEO of ENGIE Africa, Yoven Moorooven said: “The signing of the power purchase agreement demonstrates that our commitment to the region is ongoing. Our focus is now on the future and on finalizing projects in Kahone and Kaël ensuring that Senegal has access to sustainable energy for the foreseeable future.”
“The long term public-private partnership with the Senegalese Authorities and Senelec is the first independent power producer project of ENGIE in the country. We have been able to capitalize on our experience of developing and operating renewable energy projects in Africa – in particular in Senegal,” Philippe Miquel, Head of ENGIE West and Central Africa stated.
Nearly half of Senegal’s population does not have access to electricity and the power plants will contribute to the country’s efforts to lower electricity costs and reduce carbon emissions.
