By: Solar quarter

In a significant move to bolster water security and climate resilience, ACWA Power has signed key agreements with the Government of Senegal for the development of the Grande-Côte Seawater Desalination Project — the largest desalination initiative ever undertaken in West Africa. The $800 million project, fully powered by renewable energy, is set to supply up to 400,000 cubic meters of potable water per day to Dakar and surrounding regions.

The signing ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, formalized a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract and a Government Support Agreement (GSA). The event was presided over by Senegal’s President H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, alongside several senior government officials, including Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation H.E. Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Minister of Finance and Budget H.E. Cheikh Diba, and Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation H.E. Abdourahmane Sarr. Also present were representatives from Senegal’s national water asset company SONES and ACWA Power.

A Saudi delegation led by Saad bin Abdullah Al-Nafaie, Saudi Ambassador to Senegal, and senior officials from the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority (MISA), Saudi Water Authority, and other key entities, joined the event.

The Grande-Côte project will be implemented in two phases, each delivering 200,000 m³/day of desalinated water. Financial close is expected by 2026, with full commercial operations targeted by 2031. The project is structured as a long-term partnership with SONES.

A defining feature of the project is its commitment to sustainability — it will be fully powered by green electricity supplied via a dedicated agreement with Senegal’s national utility, SENELEC. This makes it one of the few large-scale desalination facilities in the world to operate entirely on renewable energy.

Raad Al Saady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of ACWA Power, said,

“The signing of these crucial agreements underscores ACWA Power’s commitment to sustainable development and solving global water challenges. We’re honored to collaborate with the Government of Senegal and SONES on this transformative initiative that sets a global benchmark for renewable-powered desalination.”

The initiative is seen as a milestone for Senegal in leveraging public-private partnerships to accelerate essential infrastructure delivery, while also marking a major expansion of ACWA Power’s sustainable development footprint across Africa.