The new Senegalese government has no plans to export oil and gas and that universal access to electricity remains a priority.
Senegal, which became an oil-producing country last June, intends to take full advantage of its hydrocarbon potential to improve access to electricity for its population.
The focus will be on using gas to meet the challenge of universal access to energy by integrating an energy mix in which renewables are expected to account for 40 per cent by 2030.
“I want to tell donors and the West that Senegal will use all its oil and gas resources to ensure access to energy for all,” declared Birame Souleye Diop, Minister of Energy, Oil and Mines, on Tuesday, September 24, at a symposium in Dakar on energy transition for sustainable development in Africa.
Mr. Diop explained that Senegal’s goal is to increase the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix to 40% by 2030, an increase of 10%, in order to guarantee adequate and clean source of energy for the entire population.
“We are one of the pioneering countries in this field. We have chosen to exploit our natural gas resources to replace heavy fuel oil in electricity generation, while strengthening the use of renewable energies through a partnership for a just energy transition,” said Diop, adding that this path is “the only guarantee of sovereignty promised by Senegal’s new leaders.
ODL/sf/ac/lb/GIK/APA