Senegal has launched a major green desalination project with ACWA Power, aiming to supply 400,000 m³/day of potable water to Dakar by 2031 using only renewable energy.
Set to serve Dakar and surrounding areas, the project will be built in two phases of 200,000 m³/day each, with full commercial operations scheduled by 2031. Financial closure is expected by 2026.
The signing ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace in Dakar and included Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Fay, key ministers, and senior officials from SONES, the national water asset company. Also present were senior delegates from Saudi Arabia, underscoring international collaboration on the project.
Senegal has launched the West Africa green desalination project with a landmark $800 million agreement signed with ACWA Power to build a 400,000 m³/day seawater desalination plant powered entirely by renewable energy.
A key sustainability milestone, the facility will run entirely on renewable energy, sourced via a dedicated agreement with SENELEC, Senegal’s state-owned electricity utility. This makes the project one of the world’s few large-scale desalination plants powered 100% by green energy.
Raad Al Saady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of ACWA Power, emphasized the project’s global significance:
“This milestone reflects our deep commitment to sustainable infrastructure and our mission to solve critical water challenges. We’re proud to support Senegal in creating a future-proof, climate-conscious water supply for millions.”
Structured as a public-private partnership (PPP) with SONES, the initiative aligns with Senegal’s national sustainability goals, strengthens its climate resilience, and sets a precedent for eco-conscious water projects across Africa.