Regional integration aims to improve energy resources in Senegal

30 October 2009

If the management of energy resources in Senegal is to be improved, co-operation with neighbouring countries is going to be essential in attracting private investment.

This was the message from Senegalese Minister of Energy, Samuel Amet Sarr, at a meeting with the Union of Electrical Energy Producers and Distributors in Africa (Updea), held in Dakar this week.

The organization was looking into solutions for improving electrical infrastructures and drawing up a plan for the next five years.

According to Sud Quotidien, Mr. Sarr said that “the lack of competition in the supply of energy is putting a considerable brake on economic development, and, unfortunately, our national electrical systems are too small to attract private investment on a really large scale”.

The dilapidated state of some electrical installations is not only causing a large number of power cuts, but is slowing up economic development in Africa as a whole.

The main obstacle in upgrading the network is the lack of available funds.

This is why the Minister sees co-operation between the African states as a route to favouring competition and making this sector more attractive, and so encouraging investments.<br/>