Senergy: Financing the creation of the largest solar power plant in West Africa

Meridiam is the leader in private investment in infrastructure, with a portfolio under management of USD 5bn. In 2014, it headed for Africa with the creation of Meridiam Infrastructure Africa Fund. It has partnered with Eiffage for the construction of the solar power plant, and with Solairedirect (subsidiary of Engie) for the operation of the power plant.

With a nominal capacity of 30 MW, Ten Merina will be one of the largest solar power plants in West Africa. It will be located in the Thiès region to the northeast of Dakar. Its commissioning is scheduled for the third quarter of 2017. The investment project also provides for the construction of grid connection infrastructure on behalf of the Senegalese public purchaser SENELEC.

The new power plant will supply electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of 226,500 inhabitants at a more competitive cost than the country's thermal power plants. The commissioning of the new Ten Merina power plant will contribute to the achievement of the Government's Emerging Senegal Plan, which provides for a substantial increase in the power generation capacity. The project will also set off the dynamics for the diversification of Senegal's energy mix. It is currently heavily focused on fossil fuels, which account for 90% of the mix. In addition, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34,000 teq CO2 a year, and will thereby contribute to the implementation of the commitments made by Senegal at COP21.