Electrical power generation, distribution and transmission in Senegal are provided by the parastatal, Société Senegalaise d’Électricité (Senelec). The total power that was installed by Senelec is 403 MW and is distributed in an inter-connected network through power stations possessing the capacity of 138 MW, a gas turbine with a 92 MW-capacity and diesel production totalling 137 MW of electrical power. The power network that has not been inter-connected produces 19,8MW of power.
Senegal has a number of power stations situated 5 km from the capital city of Dakar operating in the country, and these include:
- the diesel-powered C1 power station possesses an installed capacity of 9 MW;
- the C2 power station has an installed capacity of 86,2 MW;
- the C3 power station has an installed capacity of 148 MW;
- the diesel-powered C4 power station has an installed capacity of 95 MW; and
- the C5 power station possesses an installed capacity of 12 MW.
Other power stations that are situated in Senegal include:
- the St-Louis power station is located approximately 265 km north of Dakar is capable of 7,2 MW of power
- the Kahone power station is located 5 km from the town of Kaolack and possesses an installed capacity of 14 MW
- the Boutoute power station is located 5 km from the town of Ziguinchor and has an installed capacity of 14 MW
- the Tambacounda power station has the installed capacity of 6 MW.
As a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Senegal had signed the West African Power Pool (WAPP) agreement in the year 2000, where it was decided upon to to develop energy production facilities and interconnect the respective electricity grids of ECOWAS members, leading to the boost of electrical power supply in the West African region. Senegal stands to benefit having interconnection facilities put in place in the second phase of the agreement.
The Manatali hydropower project was completed in 2003. The project consisted of a 200-MW power station and an 800-mile (1,300-km) network of transmission lines to the capitals of Mali (Bamako), Mauritania (Nouakchott) and Senegal (Dakar). Senegal had its power grid connected to Manatali in July 2002 and Nouakchott was connected in November 2002. This development initiative supplies electricity to the grids of Mali, Mauritania, as well as Senegal.
