Senelec announced in a press release published on April 25, 2026, in Dakar, that it had finalised the acquisition of all shares of West African Energy (WAE).
It is thus becoming the sole shareholder of this company in charge of a major power plant project.
Senelec’s full acquisition of all shares of West African Energy (WAE) is part of a strategy aimed at securing and accelerating the commissioning of a 360 megawatts power plant, an infrastructure
project designed to cover nearly 25% of the national electricity demand and strengthen grid stability in a context of strong growth in energy supply in Senegal.
According to Senelec, the WAE project represents a major step forward for the Senegalese energy sector.
It is notably the first power plant of this scale to be developed by national investors, contributing to the country’s energy sovereignty. It also aligns with the transition to electricity production based on natural gas, which is less polluting than conventional thermal sources.
This operation comes after a period of tension between shareholders, which led to financial difficulties and a slowdown in construction.
The Senegalese government intervened to resolve the situation through mediation, restoring governance, securing financing, and facilitating Senelec’s takeover of the project.
To date, the power plant is 97.5% complete. Milestones already achieved include commissioning in open cycle mode, initial synchronization with the national grid in April 2025, and the gradual
start-up of the turbines.
The completion of combined cycle operation now depends on the availability of natural gas.
Beyond reviving the project, this acquisition should allow Senelec to strengthen its production capacity, support the national “Gas-to-Power” strategy, and contribute to the objectives of the Senegal 2050 Agenda, with the ultimate goal of providing access to reliable, sustainable, and competitive electricity.
In its new configuration, WAE will undergo a reorganisation of its governance to ensure better representation of the state and financial partners, as well as optimised infrastructure management.
Through this operation, Senelec confirms its key role in the transformation of the Senegalese energy sector and reaffirms the country’s ambition to strengthen its energy independence in the face
of regional challenges related to electricity access.
TE/Sf/fss/as/APA