• NGE wins two contracts for sanitation, coastal protection in Senegal
• Projects target Dakar’s Hann Bay and Gorée Island erosion
• Reflects NGE’s shift toward climate, heritage infrastructure in Africa
  

NGE (Nouvelles Générations d'Entrepreneurs), a leading French construction and civil engineering group, has confirmed two new construction contracts in Senegal, where it has a long-standing subsidiary and local offices. The projects are significant, centered on environmental protection and the restoration of national heritage.

The first contract, awarded to its subsidiary Sade, covers the final phase of the landmark project to clean up theHann Bay in the capital, Dakar—a major environmental undertaking and the largest industrial operation of its kind in West Africa. The work includes completing the remaining earthworks and underground utility networks. The project is financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the China Development Bank (CDB) and marks the final stage of an overall program in which NGE has been involved from the outset.

“Completing this project, which we began with Phase 1, demonstrates the continuity of our partnership with ONAS [Senegal's National Sanitation Office] and the complementary expertise of Sade and the NGE Group. With this project, we reaffirm our commitment to local development and to protecting water resources,” said Frédéric Bernadet, Managing Director of Sade.

The works, scheduled to last 20 months, will include laying 23 kilometers of wastewater pipes and installing 8 kilometers of reinforced concrete storm drains. The project also involves building over 1,000 reinforced concrete manholes and erecting six pumping and discharge stations, all equipped with electromechanical systems. Once completed, the infrastructure will treat 200,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day, ensuring long-term protection of this vital coastal ecosystem for Dakar.

Safeguarding Gorée Island’s Fragile Coastline

The second contract focuses on the conservation of Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978 and a powerful symbol of the transatlantic slave trade. Commissioned by the Senegalese Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Ecological Transition, acting on behalf of the World Bank–funded WACA program, the project aims to combat accelerated coastal erosion caused by marine currents and rising sea levels.

NGE will build protective rock structures along 1.3 kilometers of coastline over an estimated 15 months. The project is critical for preserving one of Senegal’s most important memorial sites, which attracts around 500,000 visitors each year. The company must also comply with the World Bank’s stringent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

“We are honored to contribute to the preservation of Gorée Island. This project reflects our commitment to sustainable development and demonstrates the confidence placed in our expertise by Senegal’s public authorities,” the company stated.

Diversification into Ecological Transition Projects

These new awards follow NGE’s previous work in Senegal. In June 2024, the National Agency for Investment Promotion and Major Works (APIX) awarded the group the restoration of Saint-Louis Island, another Senegalese UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Launched in July, that project targets three landmark sites: Baya Square, Jean Mermoz Avenue, and the Artisanal Village.

The Saint-Louis contract includes the renovation of the plaza using deactivated concrete and LED lighting, the creation of an open-air cinema, the construction of modular workshops for 60 artisans, and a riverside lookout, with completion expected by late 2026. A statement at the time emphasized NGE’s selection for “restoration work (public and private heritage) on this UNESCO World Heritage site,” underscoring the company’s commitment to sustainable tourism in Senegal.

A Strong and Growing Presence in Senegal

NGE has maintained a solid presence in Senegal through its rail subsidiary Travaux Spéciaux Ouvrages (TSO), established in 2017, and now employing nearly 200 people. Key achievements include rebuilding 51 kilometers of meter-gauge track for the Dakar Regional Express Train (TER) freight line and rehabilitating the strategic ports of Dakar and Ziguinchor, involving earthworks and paving for 12,800 square meters of logistics platforms.

The 2024 acquisition of Sade, which has operated in Senegal since 1978, expanded NGE’s expertise in water and sanitation infrastructure and environmental engineering, creating synergies for these new projects.

Founded in 2002 by engineer Joël Rousseau, NGE’s revenue grew from €350 million to €4.637 billion in 2024, up 38.7% from €3.344 billion in 2023. As the fourth-largest French construction group, employing 26,000 people, NGE generates part of its revenue on the African continent. While Senegal is a major hub, the group also operates in Morocco (water networks), Côte d’Ivoire (hydraulics), Cameroon (Nachtigal dam), and Egypt (rail infrastructure).

Although the total financial value of its three recent Senegalese contracts has not been disclosed, these projects illustrate the company’s diversification strategy and position it to benefit from growing investment in ecological transition and climate adaptation, both of which are generating new opportunities for the construction sector in Senegal.

Idriss Linge