Senegalese President Macky Sall commissioned the 96 MW Tobène power plant. “I am happy to come back to Taiba Ndiaye to commission this plant. The construction started in November 2014 so it took us 14 months to achieve this. A true record,” said the President during the ceremony.

The infrastructure which can run on gas will initially use heavy fuel oil. Developed by Tobène Power SA, subsidiary of Lebanese firm Matelec group, in the Taiba Ndiaye rural area in the Tivaouane department, the plant cost €120 million. International Finance Corporation who owns 10% of the project injected €93.6 million of the financing. Matelec Group owns remaining 90%.

The independent power producer signed with Senelec, Senegal’s public power utility, an agreement for the purchase of 70 MW of power produced at the plant over 20 years.

Senegal’s President also revealed that government intends to add 1,000 MW to the national grid, by 2020, starting with 250 MW this year.

Gwladys Johnson