A major turning point in sustainable water management in West Africa: ACWA Power, the Saudi desalination giant and a pioneer in green hydrogen, has signed strategic agreements with the government of Senegal for the Great Coast desalination project, the most ambitious ever undertaken in the region. A key feature of this project is that it will be entirely powered by renewable energy, setting a model for future water security and energy transition.
Up to 400,000 m³/day of drinking water for Dakar
With a total investment of $800 million, the project will be constructed in two phases, each with a capacity of 200,000 m³/day. Once operational, the infrastructure will provide up to 400,000 m³ of drinking water per day to the Senegalese capital and its surroundings, significantly contributing to strengthening the country’s water resilience.
The full commissioning is expected by 2031, with an initial financial closing expected by 2026. The entire project will be conducted through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with SONES (Senegalese National Water Company), a structuring partnership for the decades to come.
A 100% green plant, a first at this scale
Remarkably, the Great Coast will be one of the few desalination plants in the world to operate exclusively on renewable energy. Green electricity will be supplied by the Senegalese national grid through a specific agreement with SENELEC, the public electricity company. This strategic choice aligns perfectly with Senegal’s environmental vision, which focuses on sustainable and decarbonized growth.
A high-level signing ceremony in Dakar
The signing ceremony, held at the presidential palace in Dakar, brought together an impressive panel of institutional and economic stakeholders. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye attended the event, alongside several key ministers—Water, Finance, Economy—representatives from SONES, and a Saudi delegation led by the Saudi Arabian ambassador, alongside senior officials from the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority and the Saudi Water Authority.
A partnership serving water sovereignty
For Raad Al Saady, Vice President and CEO of ACWA Power, this project “establishes a new global benchmark for sustainable desalination.” He also emphasizes “the strategic importance of this partnership with Senegal in addressing global water challenges while adhering to climate commitments.”
A model for PPP and sustainable development
Beyond its technical dimensions, the project illustrates Senegal’s commitment to accelerating the development of critical infrastructure through public-private partnerships while protecting the environment. It also strengthens ACWA Power’s growing role in Africa, where the company is multiplying clean energy, green hydrogen, and sustainable water management projects.