afrol News, 25 January - The inauguration of a 67.5 megawatts power plant in Senegal's Sangalkam, a suburb in the capital Dakar has boost the country's struggle to battle energy blackout.

By November this year, Senegal is also expected to inaugurate a 160 mega watts power plant.

The CFA 45 billion Kounoune power plant was jointly financed by several financial institutions, including the African Development Bank, with the International Development Association (IDA) providing a partial risk guarantee while the Moroccan Bank for External Trade Capital played the role of a commercial broker.

The new plant is expected to complement the national power company SENELEC to supply over 20,000 homes in Senegal.

The project, the first infrastructure project carried out by private sector player, will increase electricity production by 13%.

SENELEC will also prepare a CFA 520 billion investment programme for the period 2007-2015.

In his inaugural speech, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade described the new plant as "a classic example of a successful public-private partnership."

Wade invited private donors to invest in his country's development because it is endowed with all the necessary conditions for private capital investment.

He said the plant was not only a major step in the implementation of an ambitious investment plan to upgrade basic infrastructure and power-generating, but it also formed part of the major partnership projects.

President Wade said Senegal - a non oil producing nation - is also a victim of the severe oil crisis, which had negatively impact on its development in general. He said his government has taken several measures to address the energy crisis.

Senegalese government spent over CFA 200 billion to subvent electricity for consumers during the last five years.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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