Malicounda, Senegal
Africa50-Project Finance
A 120 MW combined cycle thermal power plant at Malicounda.
Malicounda is a 120 MW combined cycle thermal power plant under construction 85 kilometres from Dakar, designed to produce at least 956 GWh of power a year. It will initially run on fuel oil but is expected to be converted to natural gas when this becomes available from local fields.
The electricity generated will be sold under a 20-year power purchase agreement and fed into the network through an existing distribution substation.
Impact
Development
- The plant is expected to increase generating capacity in Senegal by about 17%, while reducing generation costs by about 14%.
- If the savings are passed on to consumers this could result in a 3-7% fall in tariffs and a 1-3% rise in GDP.
Environment
- The plant is expected to help satisfy baseloads, facilitating the integration of intermittent renewable power into the country’s network.
- This type of combined-cycle power plant produces higher output at higher efficiencies (up to 55%) with lower emissions than the older open-cycle plants presently being used.
- When converted to gas the plant is expected to form part of the evolution of Senegal’s energy mix from diesel (currently about 75% of total generation capacity) to renewables, reducing emissions.
Employment
- About 150 jobs are expected to be created during construction.
Project photos
![The shell of large warehouse in the building process.](/fileadmin/uploads/africa50/2021-01-25_at_18.23.12__12_.jpeg)
![Aerial view of the Malicounda project site Aerial view of the Malicounda project site](/fileadmin/uploads/africa50/Malicounda_Project_site_2.png)
![Aerial view of the Malicounda project site Aerial view of the Malicounda project site](/fileadmin/uploads/africa50/Malicounda_Project_site_3.png)
![Aerial view of the Malicounda project site Aerial view of the Malicounda project site](/fileadmin/uploads/africa50/2021-01-25_at_18.23.12__10_.jpeg)
![Another aerial view of the Malicounda project site Aerial view of the Malicounda project site](/fileadmin/uploads/africa50/2021-01-25_at_18.23.12__8_.jpeg)