Senegal Advances Its National Energy Efficiency Strategy with AFREC Support

Dakar, SENEGAL, 15 September 2026 - The Republic of Senegal, with support from the African Energy Commission (AFREC) and technical assistance from the European Union (EU) funded Continental Energy Programme in Africa (CEPA), has developed a new National Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (NEESAP) to improve its energy productivity. This was alongside introducing Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) Guidelines and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) adapted to the Senegal context.

The Agency for Energy Economy and Management (AEME) under Senegal's Ministry of Energy and Petroleum presented the results to around 60 representatives from government institutions, the private sector, financial institutions, professional bodies, and development partners in Dakar on 10 September. Stakeholders reviewed the proposed NEESAP, action plan and building-efficiency instruments and provided recommendations to strengthen their alignment with Senegal's national priorities.

Senegal, one of four countries in the first pilot phase, alongside Burundi, Madagascar and Zimbabwe, could through this modelling process increase its energy productivity and exceed continental targets established under the African Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (AfEES)."The results of the modelling show that Senegal has the strategic and operational levers to increase its energy productivity by 70% by 2050 and 100% by 2063, thereby exceeding the continental targets," said Mame Coumba Ndiaye, Director General of AEME.

Energy Efficiency is being positioned as a key component of Senegal's long-term energy transition and development agenda as the country faces rising energy demand, increasing energy costs, rapid urbanisation and the need to improve economic competitiveness.

For AFREC, the Senegal work demonstrates how a continental African Union Strategy can be translated into country-level action while maintaining national ownership. "A continental strategy only has value when it translates into tangible results at country level. We are not developing strategies for countries; we are developing them with countries, under their leadership and according to their priorities," said Mr. Mehdi Khouili, the Country Support and Capacity Building Officer at AFREC. "Senegal is showing how Africa's continental energy efficiency ambition can be translated into concrete national action. Our next challenge is to move together from strategy to implementation, and thereafter to measurable results."

The NEESAP and associated building-efficiency instruments were developed through national consultations, data collection, technical analysis and energy efficiency modelling, supported by successive engagements with Senegalese institutions. The approach is intended to identify priority measures, clarify institutional responsibilities and establish a basis for programmes and investments that can deliver measurable energy savings.

Following the Dakar workshop, the proposed strategy, action plan and building-performance instruments will be refined and finalised based on stakeholder inputs. AFREC will continue working with AEME and other national stakeholders to support capacity development, monitoring and results measurement, knowledge exchange and engagement with technical and financial partners as Senegal moves towards implementation.

Lessons generated from Senegal and the other three pilot countries will be used to refine the methodology and inform its wider application across African Union Member States, while enabling participating to share experiences and solutions through peer learning.

Notes to Editor:

The African Energy Commission (AFREC) is a specialised energy agency of the African Union mandated to develop, coordinate and support the integration and transformation of Africa's energy sector. AFREC works with African Union Member States and regional institutions across areas including energy information and statistics, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy transition, energy planning and capacity development.

The African Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (AfEES) provides the continental framework for accelerating energy efficiency across Africa. It sets the ambition of improving Africa's energy productivity by 50% by 2050 and 70% by 2063, with implementation translated into national and regional action. Senegal is among the first four pilot countries receiving support to operationalise the strategy at national level.

The Continental Energy Programme in Africa (CEPA) is funded by the European Union and provides technical assistance to African Union energy institutions. Among other areas, it supports AFREC in the implementation of the African Energy Efficiency Strategy. The programme is implemented by a consortium led by Stantec with GIZ.

For more information, please contact:

Executive Director | African Energy Commission (AFREC) | African Union |
email: [email protected] | Tel: +213 23 45 9198 | https://www.au-afrec.org | Algiers | Algeria | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn

George Sichinga | Communication Officer | African Energy Commission (AFREC) | African Union | Email: [email protected] | Tel: +213 23 45 9198 | https://www.au-afrec.org | Algiers | Algeria | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn