Nov.
2017
Press release / Pressemitteilung / Communiqué de presse / PM08-2017
The villages of Casamance in lights
Training of 80 young people as part of the Sustainable Development via Renewable Energy - South-East Senegal (Développement Durable par les Energies Renouvelables au Sud-Est du Sénégal) DPER-SE project
As its name indicates, this project involves promoting rural electricity provision favouring renewables, particularly photovoltaic solar energy. Ultimately, the DPER-SE project aims to provide modern and sustainable electricity provision to 3000 households, a hundred basic social establishments including schools, health posts, places of worship and 150 SMEs in 20 business areas.
Specifically, 40 mini electricity networks powered by mini PV solar power stations with a total capacity of 800kWc shall be installed. In addition to the electricity supply dimension, this project places emphasis on capacity building. For the total success of this project, the involvement of local elected officials shall be paramount for ensuring the continuity and duplication of the project. To allow the 385 local elected officials in the project area, a series of awareness-building workshops were held in the target regions. The training of 80 technicians on photovoltaic solar technology (installation, maintenance and management) is also envisaged by the DPER-SE project.
That is how this week, 24 young people from 12 villages in the region of Ziguinchor were trained in the installation and maintenance of mini solar power stations. Through this capacity building activity, young people from the project’s target villages as well as surrounding ones shall be involved in the execution of the project. Beyond this project, these young people shall also be better equipped for entering the green job market. This one-week training workshop, which was held from 24 to 27 October 2017 in Ziguinchor, represents the final training phase for 80 young people. The Kolda and Sédhiou sessions were held in September.
At the end of this training carried out by EDEN Solaire on behalf of the DPER-SE project, participants shall be able to carry out technical acceptance for solar equipment, as well as the sizing, installation, management and maintenance of mini solar power stations.
Mr. Siré A. Diallo, technical co-ordinator of the project at ECREEE thanked the European Union and ASER, in the name of Executive Director Mahama Kappiah, for sponsoring this project. He also highlighted the participation of other technical partners on the ground, namely Energie-R and Solar 23. For him, through this project, ECREEE is in the process of translating the new direction of ECOWAS, which involves adding a dimension more oriented towards concrete projects that change the lives of citizens.
With the DPER-SE project, the new vision “ECOWAS of people” is underway. Mr Diallo added that this project shall contribute to improving the lives of rural populations, reducing poverty and rural exodus, protecting the environment and integrating the gender strategy into energy issues. He invites young people to make the most of new knowledge acquired in the job market or by creating their own companies.
With capacity building, SMEs shall always be accompanied in the area of entrepreneurial management and developers that distinguish themselves shall be awarded with honours. To finish he thanked the project sponsors, the European Union and ASER, for their availability and accompaniment.
Mr Lamine Camara, representative of the DG of ASER recalled the role of the agency in rural electricity provision as a delegated developer. Through financing this project, ASER contributes to the execution of the policy of the president of Senegal, His Excellency Macky Sall.
To recap, the State of Senegal, in its ambition to provide electricity to all villages in its territory has been granted the significant support of ECREEE, which is a specialised ECOWAS agency for renewable energy and energy efficiency, which is prominent in this and other projects which are beginning to come to fruition and, through this, strengthen the knowledge of ASER. Through the Emergency Programme for Rural Electricity Provision (Programme d’urgence d’électrification rurale) (PUER 2) and other projects financed by the European Union, the funds of Abu Dhabi, The Islamic Bank, WADB, India, ECREEE and the consolidated investment budget, at least 2000 villages shall receive electricity in the national territory.
Specifically as regards Casamance, PUER 2, the 218 villages and India Phase 2 project shall facilitate the extension of the electricity network and allow for electricity provision for villages in a 2 km radius of the medium-voltage electrical line. For villages that are isolated and remote from the network, WADB and DPER-SE (co-financed by the EU) and India Phase projects will provide the population with access to electricity supply.
ASER, more than being involved alongside His Excellency the president of Senegal and supporting the ambition of sustainable development through the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE), has universal electricity access in 2025 and the intermediary objective of 60% in 2019 in sight.
For the governor of Ziguinchor, Mr Guedji Diouf, this project is well-timed as mini solar power stations shall satisfy the electricity deficit in the region. He underlined that to complete the efforts made by ASER and Senelec, similar public-private partnership projects are key. He especially highlighted the contribution of this project towards the creation of jobs and value added for the productive use of energy in the agriculture and industry sectors. Concluding, the governor indicated that this project is in perfect harmony with the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE), which prioritises energy access and combating poverty.
Sustainable Development via Renewable Energy - South-East Senegal (DPER-SE, Senegal) is geared towards electricity provision favouring photovoltaic solar technology. It costs 8,682,115 euros, of which 74% is financed by the European Union through the ACP-EU Energy Facility Monitoring in the form of a donation and 26% is financed by the State of Senegal through ASER.