Senegal is home to one of West Africa''s leading off-grid power sectors. The country''s private-sector solar home system (SHS) companies have been at the forefront of adopting proven business models and technologies from East Africa, while also innovating through partnerships with microfinance institutions. Contributing to Senegal''s position as a regional leader are a relatively strong human resource pool and good transportation links to neighboring countries. Professionals in Senegal are experienced in business and have networks spanning the region.
At the same time, government policies, originally developed in the late 1990s, have provided an official framework for private development and financing of large-scale grid infrastructure, mini-grids, and standalone power systems. Although this framework has not entirely delivered on expected results, it has helped to attract large quantities of donor finance.
Eramet Grande Côte, a part of the French mining and metals company Eramet, and South Africa''s JUWI Renewable Energies have successfully secured funding for a €30 million (ZAR 600 million) off-grid solar power and battery storage project at the Diogo mine in Senegal. This project includes a 20 MW solar system and an 11 MWh battery storage solution. It will supply clean energy, covering 20% of the mine’s energy needs and cutting carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes annually. The project is also set to create over 100 jobs during its construction and ongoing maintenance.
Richard Doyle, MD, JUWI Renewable Energies, said in a statement, “As part of our commitment to Africa''s energy transition, we''re thrilled to partner with Eramet Grande Côte on their first off-grid solar and storage project and to support Senegal''s ambitious carbon emissions goals. Sustainable mining technologies are crucial in reducing the environmental impact of industrial operations, especially as many African mining operations rely on hydrocarbon fuels due to the continent''s limited grid infrastructure."
He further added, "By integrating renewable energy and storage into mining, we reduce carbon footprints, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen long-term energy resilience. We''re proud to use JUWI''s experience in delivering hybrid energy solutions across Africa to help advance sustainable mining and Africa''s clean energy transition."
In this paper, we use the term ''solar home system'' or SHS to refer generically to solar domestic installations. The term ''solar kit'' refers to pre-packaged (plug and play) equipment, usually based on paygo (prepayment) systems, supplied by private or public service providers as a product-service (maintenance) or product only.
Rapport de Mission en Afrique Occidentale Française, Électricité de France, Service des Etudes d''Outre-Mer, 1948–1949. In the context of the Plan de Modernisation et d''Equipement des Territoires d''Outre-mer (Modernization and Equipment Plan for the Overseas Territories) initiated by the French government in 1946, the report reviews the existing infrastructure in Senegal and other countries of French-speaking West Africa (Togo, Guinea, Sudan, etc.).
The ambition of grid expansion was hampered by sectorial difficulties as well as debt crises, combined with galloping urbanization linked to the rural exodus, oil shock and recurrent agricultural droughts.
Between 1996 and 2002, under pressure from the World Bank, Senelec underwent several privatization attempts, which gave rise to violent social conflicts with the important Sutelec union (one of the main Senegalese trade unions) (Ndiaye, 2017; Sene, 2013). The successive failures of private partnerships (e.g., Elyo and Hydro Quebec) led the State to take back a majority share in the company which, since the 1998 reform, had operated as a concessionaire (Sene, 2013).
''PASER has attracted offers of finance from donors in excess of $159 million (ASER, 2012) (). The winning bids secured a contract of [USD] 52m in private finance, representing 49% of the total investment'' (Mawhood & Gross, 2014).
Senelec, influenced by its powerful Sutelec union, defends a different conception of public service (Sene, 2013). Some actors, including the World Bank, suspected Senelec of delaying or even blocking private actors'' integration into the electricity sector.
The large companies in charge of concessions enter this challenging market with objectives that go beyond immediate profitability (Mawhood & Gross, 2014; Mostert, 2008; Robert, 2016). They hope to gain a strategic positioning within one of the most dynamic countries in West Africa or aspire to contribute to the company''s social responsibility programme.
About Senegal off-grid solar
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