AXIAN Energy, a renewable energy producer, has finalized the financing of a major solar project in southern Senegal, strengthening the momentum of private investments in the country’s energy sector.
The company announced on Thursday the financial closing of the NEA Kolda photovoltaic plant in the south of the country, a 90 million euro project located in Casamance, with a capacity of 60 MWc coupled with a 72 MWh battery storage system (BESS). The financing, amounting to 72 million euros, was structured by the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund and FMO, with the participation of DEG, illustrating the appetite of international lenders for African energy infrastructure projects considered bankable.
AXIAN Energy had already started work in May 2025 with its own funds, anticipating the finalization of the financing, a practice still uncommon but indicative of increased competition to secure projects in the region.
The plant is expected to produce approximately 91 GWh per year from November 2026, under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Senelec. It will help power over 235,000 households and stabilize the grid through storage, a key issue for integrating intermittent renewables.
The project aligns with Senegal’s strategy to achieve 40% renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030, as the country aims to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels while supporting demand growth.
Beyond energy, NEA Kolda is expected to create around 400 local jobs and avoid nearly 59,000 tons of CO2 emissions by the end of the decade, according to the company, along with a 2 billion CFA franc social program for local communities.
