Senegal has developed and commissioned a large-scale power plant in record time. The 120 MW Malicounda facility is set to revitalize the country’s electricity generation market to meet growing energy demand.
The 120 MW Malicounda Power Plant – inaugurated by Senegal’s President Macky Sall on February 11 – has “the best technology available and is one of the most efficient power plants,” according to Samer Nasr, the CEO of MPG Energy – the company responsible for the construction of the power plant – during the official launch of the project.
Located in the town of Malicounda in western Senegal, the power plant comprises 50 oil-powered electricity generators developed by technology firm, Wartsila. The plant will be converted to utilize gas at a later stage.
With Senegal set to produce its first oil from the Sangomar Development and first gas from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development, the power plant presents a massive opportunity for the country to be energy independent and avoid the high-costs associated with imports to meet local demand.
Nasr added that “Despite the challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, we still managed to develop the project in record time. The completion of the project means more reliable and cheaper electricity and it could bring energy to a quarter of the Senegalese population,” with the project generating enough electricity to power 500,000 households.
Since first electricity production in August 2022, the €154 million project has boosted Senegal’s electricity generation by 8%, a major development that will move Senegal closer to the government’s target of achieving universal energy access by 2025.
Financed by a combination of funds secured from the African Development Bank, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the West African Development Bank, the OPEC Fund for International Development and Africa50, President Macky Sall shared that the Malicounda Power Plant “is a historic project accomplished under a Public-Private Partnership that will reduce electricity costs for the people of Senegal.”
