Algeria’s energy giant is making a decisive move into Senegal, marking a turning point in its African expansion. Already well established in Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Benin and Mauritania, Sonelgaz is now setting its sights on the Senegalese market.

The signing of two memorandums of understanding with Senelec this Saturday signals a new phase in Algeria’s push for African energy integration.

Algeria is stepping up its economic diplomacy across Africa. On Saturday, October 3, the Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Dr Mourad Adjal, received his Senegalese counterpart, El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf. At the heart of the talks: the transfer of Algerian expertise and support for Senegal in developing its electricity and gas infrastructure.

Sonelgaz at the forefront of Algeria’s energy diplomacy

The trend is clear. Algeria is no longer content to export its hydrocarbons; it is now exporting its engineering know-how. After multiplying partnerships and infrastructure projects with Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Benin and Mauritania, Sonelgaz has set its sights on West Africa.

During this high-level meeting, Dr Mourad Adjal reiterated Algiers’ willingness to support Senegal across the entire value chain: from electricity generation to gas distribution, including the manufacturing of electrical equipment and the training of executives.

Natural gas: a new focus in cooperation with Senelec

Senegal, which is about to join the very select club of gas-producing countries, is looking for experienced partners to develop its resources. This is where Sonelgaz’s expertise becomes a major asset. The discussions largely focused on electricity generation from natural gas, an area where Algeria excels.

This desire to pool skills materialized with the signing of two memorandums of understanding between Sonelgaz and Senelec (Société nationale d’électricité du Sénégal). These agreements cover:

• Skills transfer and technical assistance;
• Manufacturing and marketing of electrical equipment;
• Development of energy infrastructure;
• Strengthening of electrical interconnection.

Senegal bets on a ‘reliable partner’

For Dakar, the choice of Algeria is no accident. The Senegalese minister, El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf, described Algeria as a “reliable partner on which Senegal will rely in the next stage”. Praising Algerian expertise, he recalled that energy remains the strategic driver of his country’s development.

This alliance fits perfectly into the vision of a mutually beneficial South-South cooperation. By relying on a continental champion like Sonelgaz, Senegal hopes to accelerate its energy independence while benefiting from optimized development costs.

A government agreement expected in Dakar in December

Sonelgaz’s Senegalese offensive is only in its early stages. This fruitful meeting in Algiers lays the groundwork for an even broader political and economic partnership. Both countries have already set a date: a comprehensive government agreement in the field of energy and renewable energies will be signed in Dakar in early December.

With this new deployment, Sonelgaz confirms its ambition to become the undisputed leader in electricity and gas on the African continent, further consolidating Algeria’s position as a regional energy power.

By Yacouba Ouédraogo — Journalist