Press release / Pressemitteilung / Communiqué de presse / PM03-2015
Project launch of the Sustainable Development via Renewable Energy (DPER - South East Senegal)
Dakar, April 2015 - The Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of ECOWAS (ECREEE), the companies SOLAR23 GmbH and ENERGIE R SARL, and the European Union have launched the Sustainable Development via Renewable Energy - South-East Senegal („Développement Durable par les Energies Renouvelables - Sud Est Sénégal“, or DPER-SE Senegal) project under the effective chairmanship of Mr. Mohamed B.A DIONNE, Prime Minister of Senegal, Mr. Joaquin Gonzalez-Ducay Ambassador, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Senegal, Mr. Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo Pre- sident of the ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Maimouna Ndoye SECK, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy Development on 17 April 2015.
With EU financing equalling 6.4 million EURO in the form of a grant, the programme aims to provide access to solar electrical energy to approximately 3,000 households in 40 villages that are far from the network, in the regions of Ziguinchor, Kolda and Tambacounda.
The project is consistent with the fight against poverty and the achievement of the MDGs. For Senegal, rural electrification is a priority supported by the EU in order for the important issue of energy in rural areas to be resolved, especially through increased use of clean energy by households. The project aims to have sustainable development supply electrical energy for business areas as well as for community infrastructure, such as schools, health centres and places of worship.
Under the auspices of the Senegalese Agency for Rural Electrification („Agence Sénégalaise d’Electrification Rurale“ or ASER), this project is in line with its objective of electricity everywhere and for all, and for an emerging Senegal.Led by ECREE, the ECOWAS organisation, this project is wholly aligned with the broa- der strategic objectives of the ECOWAS Vision for 2020.
SOLAR23 GmbH, a German company operating in 30 countries largely in Africa, will provide technical sup- port for the project. SOLAR23 has already shown its commitment to Senegal with the 2008 implementa- tion of a pilot solar project in the village of Ndelle in the Department of Guinguineo.
EnergieR SARL is a Senegalese company specialising in the installation of electrical production infrastruc- ture, especially in rural areas. Providing ‚turnkey‘ solutions for sites that are far from the network regard- less of the application, it is also active in the management of Local Rural Electrification Initiative („Electri- fication Rurale d’Initiative Locale“ or ERIL) projects.
The project‘s other objectives include the training of local officials in renewable energy technologies and the management of rural electrification projects, as well as the training of young people from recipient villages about solar energy.