Senegal: Local gas must reduce electricity costs

Senegal aims to increase the use of its natural gas in electricity production to lower energy costs and reduce dependence on imported fuels. The Minister of Energy and Petroleum, El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf, presented this direction on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

The government has set a target to reduce the price of electricity per kilowatt-hour by 30% by 2030. This goal is included in the general policy statement by Prime Minister Ahmadou Alhaminou Mohamed Lô, which envisions a growing role for domestic gas in electricity production and the electrification of 6,471 underserved localities.

The gas transportation network will gradually connect offshore resources to power plants and industrial hubs. The northern segment, whose first pipeline was laid on September 10 in Gandon, spans approximately 85 kilometers and will be able to transport up to 300 million cubic feet of gas per day, according to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.

The strategy relies on several resources that are either already being produced or are under development. Reuters specifically mentions the Sangomar oil and gas field, the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim liquefied natural gas project, and Yakaar-Teranga, for which the license has been awarded to the state-owned company Petrosen. The gas from Yakaar-Teranga is intended to supply the domestic market while maintaining an export component.

The desired reduction is not solely dependent on gas. The government links this initiative to the development of renewable energy, improvements in energy efficiency, and better targeting of subsidies. Authorities aim to allocate more public assistance to vulnerable households, public transport, and certain strategic productive sectors.

El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf stated that Senegal remains open to new international partners to develop its oil and gas resources, provided that the projects respect national interests as well as the technical and economic requirements of the country.