• The Grande-Côte seawater desalination project, with a capacity of 400,000 m³/day and entirely powered by green electricity, is set to benefit Dakar and its neighboring regions.
• This initiative will be implemented in two stages, each providing 200,000 m³/day, with full operational capabilities anticipated by 2031.
ACWA Power, the largest private desalination company globally and a frontrunner in energy transition and green hydrogen, has officially signed critical project agreements with the Senegalese Government for the Grande-Côte seawater desalination initiative. This groundbreaking infrastructure project, entirely reliant on renewable energy, aims to deliver up to 400,000 m³ of drinkable water daily for Dakar and its vicinity, representing a major advancement in the region’s water security.
The signing ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, formalizing the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract and the Government Support Agreement (GSA). The event was attended by His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Fay, President of Senegal; His Excellency Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation; His Excellency Cheikh Diba, Minister of Finance and Budget; His Excellency Abdourahmane Sarr, Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation; along with representatives from SONES, Senegal’s national water utility, and ACWA Power.
Also present was a distinguished Saudi delegation, including Saad bin Abdullah Al-Nafaie, Saudi Ambassador to Senegal; Khaled Alkhattaf, CEO of the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority; Nasser Alaqil, General Manager at MISA; Eng. Sharekh Alsharekh, Representative of the Saudi Water Authority; and Hamad Alrushaid, International Cooperation Lead at MISA.
With an estimated investment of around USD 800 million, the Grande-Côte Project marks the largest desalination venture ever launched in West Africa. The project will unfold in two phases, each contributing 200,000 m³/day of desalinated water, with financial closure anticipated by 2026 and full commercial operations by 2031. Designed as a long-term collaboration with SONES, this initiative is expected to significantly enhance Senegal’s water infrastructure and resilience.
A key aspect of the Grande-Côte Project is its complete dependence on green electricity, obtained from Senegal’s national grid through a dedicated supply agreement with the state-owned electricity provider SENELEC. This commitment establishes the Grande-Côte Project as one of the few large-scale desalination facilities worldwide operating solely on renewable energy, aligning perfectly with Senegal’s broader climate and sustainability objectives.
“The signing of these essential agreements for the Grande-Côte seawater desalination project highlights ACWA Power’s steadfast dedication to sustainable development and our role as a reliable partner in tackling global water challenges. We are immensely proud to work alongside the Government of Senegal and SONES to realize this crucial infrastructure, ensuring a sustainable water future for Dakar and its communities, and setting a new standard for environmentally responsible desalination globally,” stated Raad Al Saady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of ACWA Power.
The signing of these agreements illustrates Senegal’s ongoing leadership in utilizing public-private partnerships to expedite the provision of vital services, while reinforcing ACWA Power’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure development throughout Africa.
Source: ACWA Power
