- U.S. Treasury Secretary has kicked off a new rural electrification project in Senegal.
- The project has the potential to power 70 villages.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen kicked off a new rural electrification project in Senegal that will bring reliable power to 350,000 people.
Yellen travelled to the project’s site, led by Illinois-based engineering firm Weldy Lamont, as part of a three-country trip to Africa that aims to expand U.S.-African ties and address climate change challenges, food security and debt.
The new project received technical assistance from the U.S. Power Africa initiative, capacity building through the U.S. Agency for Trade and Development, and a $102.5 million loan guarantee from the Export-Import Bank.
Senegal has among the highest electrification rates across Sub-Saharan Africa, between 70% and 80%. However, access to electricity remains far more limited in rural areas.
Yellen added that such disparities could hinder opportunities for households and businesses in areas otherwise ripe for economic development. The project includes an important renewable energy element with a solar grid to power 70 villages.