Souveraineté énergétique : La Senelec prend le contrôle total de West African Energy
Senelec announced on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the completion of its acquisition of all shares of West African Energy (WAE). Now the sole shareholder, the national company has secured a project of vital importance for the country's energy independence.
The operation, officially announced by Senelec's General Management, marks a decisive step. It brings the national company's stake to 100% of the capital of West African Energy. This move is part of a strategy to "secure and accelerate the commissioning of the 360 MW power plant," an infrastructure deemed essential as it represents "nearly 25% of the national electricity demand."
The WAE project is presented as a historic breakthrough, being the "first large-scale power plant initiated by domestic investors." Beyond its contribution to energy independence, it is expected to play a decisive role in the transition to "lower-carbon electricity production based on natural gas."
However, the path to this acquisition was not without its challenges. Faced with "difficulties encountered in the project's governance," notably a dispute between shareholders that led to the suspension of funding, the State of Senegal had to play a central mediating role. Under the leadership of the Minister of Energy and the guidance of the Prime Minister, coordinated action enabled, among other things, "the mediation and resolution of the shareholder conflict" as well as "securing the necessary funding to continue the project." This mobilization was crucial to "avoiding critical delays and preserving a strategic project for the country."
From a technical standpoint, the power plant is currently at a very promising stage of completion, with 97.5% of the work completed. Milestones already achieved include the commissioning of the open cycle and initial synchronization with the national grid on April 11, 2025. The handover to the operating team is already complete.
For Senelec, this acquisition is a lever to "sustainably strengthen its production capacities" and support the national "Gas-to-Power" strategy, in line with the objectives of the Senegal 2050 Agenda. The new configuration of WAE will lead to a profound reorganization of its governance in order to guarantee, according to the press release, "strict compliance with commitments to financial partners" and "optimized and sustainable management of the asset".
Through this full takeover, Senelec reaffirms its role as a pillar in the transformation of the sector and its commitment to access to "sustainable, reliable and competitive" electricity for all Senegalese.
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