  Senegal starts converting Bel Air plant to LNG to cut oil dependence

  Finnish firm Wärtsilä is handling the project in two phases through 2025

  The move supports national goals for energy security and cost stability

Senegal has taken a major step in reshaping its energy system. On Tuesday, May 13, officials confirmed that the country has launched the process to convert its Bel Air power plant — one of its biggest, with a capacity of 335 megawatts, to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) instead of heavy fuel oil.

The project has been assigned to Finnish engineering firm Wärtsilä and will unfold in two key stages. The first phase, which began this month, involves upgrading the plant's engines to handle LNG. The second phase is scheduled to wrap up by the end of 2025 and will mark the full switch to natural gas as the plant’s main fuel.

The conversion is being led by Senelec, Senegal’s public electricity supplier. It is part of a broader national strategy to tap into the country’s own gas resources in order to strengthen electricity security and reduce dependence on global oil markets. In 2023, Senegal spent about $2.13 billion on refined petroleum imports — nearly 20% of its total goods imports.

Although switching to LNG raises questions about the short-term reliability of electricity during the transition, Senelec has said that it is taking steps to minimize service disruptions and maintain quality during this period.

By using more of its own gas, Senegal hopes to better manage energy costs and improve its trade balance. For businesses, especially in high-demand industries like mining, a steady electricity supply is seen as vital.

Looking further ahead, the Senegalese government is aiming for an electricity production capacity of 3,000 megawatts by 2050 — a goal largely driven by gas, which the country has recently started exporting. The Bel Air conversion is a first, concrete step toward this target. It is expected to attract more investment in energy infrastructure, boost business competitiveness, and move the country closer to energy independence.