The Senegalese government has set a goal to achieve universal access to electricity by 2029. To accelerate progress, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum convened a roundtable with technical and financial partners, as well as private sector actors, to mobilize funding. The event, co-chaired by Minister of Energy and Petroleum El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf and Minister of Economy, Finance, and Planning Cheikh Diba, aimed to guarantee electricity access to all Senegalese citizens by 2029.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Senegal's national electricity access rate stood at 86.2% as of 2024. Out of 25,725 localities, 12,683 are already electrified, while 6,571 are covered by ongoing projects. However, 6,471 localities remain to be covered, affecting nearly one million people. Initially, the financial needs for this final stage were estimated at around 400 billion FCFA.
The roundtable resulted in significant financial commitments from partners. Technical and financial partners pledged 181 billion FCFA for new electrification projects, while the private sector announced commitments of 817 billion FCFA. In total, 998 billion FCFA in commitments were recorded, exceeding the estimated needs for covering the remaining localities.
The Senegalese government views this mobilization as a demonstration of interest from technical and financial partners, as well as private investors, in the country's ambition for universal electricity access. President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye's vision for the sector aims to address territorial disparities and promote economic development.
Universal electricity access is considered a lever for social justice, territorial equity, and economic transformation. The government's goal is to improve living conditions and foster economic activities in areas still without electricity. With the commitments announced, Senegal has secured significant financial resources to accelerate its projects and move closer to its 2029 target.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum is optimistic about the prospects for achieving universal electricity access. The government will focus on implementing projects in the remaining localities, leveraging the commitments from partners and private investors. This effort is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Senegalese people.
The achievement of universal electricity access in Senegal will require continued collaboration between the government, technical and financial partners, and private sector actors. The 998 billion FCFA in commitments will play a crucial role in bridging the infrastructure gap and promoting economic development in the country.
Key points
- The Senegalese government has secured 998 billion FCFA ($1.8 billion) in commitments to achieve universal electricity access by 2029.
- The country's national electricity access rate stood at 86.2% as of 2024, with 6,471 localities remaining to be covered.
- The government views universal electricity access as a key driver of social justice, territorial equity, and economic transformation.
