The contract was signed between the National Water Company of Senegal (SONES) and the Saudi group on March 27th, just four days before the end of former President Macky Sall’s term.
Government to Terminate Desalination Plant Deal
The Senegalese government is set to terminate a contract worth nearly 459 billion CFA francs (approximately $760 million) that was signed in the final days of former President Macky Sall’s term with the Saudi group ACWA Power.
The contract was for the construction of a desalination plant, as announced by the Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024.
Project Not Aligned with Government Strategy
“This project does not align with the government’s strategic options. We have decided not to pursue it,” stated Minister Dièye on the local private channel 2STV.
He further elaborated, “In three or four years, we will need more than 400,000 cubic meters per day because Dakar’s population will increase. The price of water is likely to rise due to the technology used, and the planned environmental studies have not been conducted.” He characterized the desalination plant project as a “short-term and expensive solution.”
Timing of the Contract Raises Questions
The public-private partnership (PPP) contract between the National Water Company of Senegal and the Saudi group ACWA Power was signed on March 27th, just four days before the end of Macky Sall’s mandate. This timing has raised concerns and questions about the transparency and appropriateness of the deal.
Project Details and Intended Purpose
The contract involved the construction and operation of a seawater desalination plant near Lac Rose, east of Dakar, not far from the Atlantic coast. This plant, with a capacity of 400,000 cubic meters per day, was intended to sell the produced water to the Senegalese State to meet a portion of the country’s growing water needs.