• Senegal appoints 150 energy managers to cut public sector use
• Goal is 30% energy savings in government buildings
• Part of Vision 2050 push for clean energy sovereignty

Senegal’s Ministry of Energy, Petroleum, and Mines announced the appointment of 150 new energy managers on Monday, Oct. 27, as part of a 2024 program to improve energy efficiency in public buildings. According to officials, public sector use reached 431.6 gigawatt-hours (GWh), a level deemed excessive. 

The new energy managers will monitor consumption in their institutions, recommend efficiency measures, and promote energy-saving practices among staff. Government offices in Diamniadio are already serving as a pilot site, with a goal of reducing energy bills by 30%.

Minister Birame Soulèye Diop reaffirmed Senegal’s “Vision 2050,” which seeks energy sovereignty based on clean, competitive domestic resources. He said achieving this goal requires tighter control of energy use, especially within public institutions.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), improving energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to enhance living standards and cut costs in developing countries. The IEA estimates that in sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of households could afford essential appliances, such as refrigerators, if they opted for energy-efficient models,  a rate that drops to 50% with conventional appliances.

Energy efficiency measures also reduce carbon dioxide emissions, lower reliance on fossil fuels, and ease pressure on electricity grids. By embedding energy management into public policy and training its own specialists, Senegal is laying the groundwork for a structural shift that ties efficiency to national energy sovereignty.

Abdoullah Diop