Senegal Unveils One of Africa's Largest Solar Energy Projects
Senegal put into service one of sub-Saharan Africa's largest solar energy projects on Saturday as it pushes to become a regional player in renewables on a continent where the majority remain off-grid.
The 20-megawatt Senergy 2 project in Bokhol, close to the Mauritanian border, will serve 160,000 people with electricity, and will contribute to Senegal's target of serving 20 percent of its energy needs with renewables by the end of next year.
"Without energy there can be neither growth nor development," said Senegalese President Macky Sall at the opening ceremony.
"With the Bokhol facility, we take a new step and Senegal enters wholeheartedly into a new, clean-energy era," he told the audience in a country where 45 percent currently lack power at home.
J Michel Carriere