October 7, 2015
(Senegal and Mauritania) Transmission Line Construction
Expressions of Interest Sought for a Regional Electric Interconnection Project between Senegal and Mauritania
The governments of Mauritania and Senegal are seeking expressions of interest for the construction of a 225kV transmission line between Nouakchott and Tobène, to upgrade the connection and increase the transmission capacity between the two countries’ power grids. The proposed line will be capable of carrying up to 250MW. There will be an open international tender for pre-qualified companies. The deadline for expressions of interest for the tender pre-qualification is January 30, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. local time (Dakar).
Background
According to the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Senelec charges the highest tariffs in the West African Economic and Monetary Union, and relies on significant government subsidies, of €180m ($240m) in 2012 and €120m in 2013. However, restructuring efforts at the utility are beginning to bear fruit, and there are hopes that supply can be improved by the planned 125MW Sendou coal-fired plant, and by imports from Mauritania.
Mauritania has an energy investment plan that includes a 350MW gas-to-power project, a 30MW wind power plant and a 15MW solar project. Development of the Banda gas field has been under discussion for some years, but operator Tullow Oil has recently scaled down its activities in Mauritania following disappointing exploration results, and is planning to bring in one or more partners to reduce its stake to around 30% from 66.83% before reaching a final investment decision.
The latest blow to the development of Banda has come with the withdrawal of miner Kinross Gold Corporation from the Société de Production de l’Electricité à Partir du Gaz special purpose vehicle, whose main shareholder is now state power utility Société Mauritanienne d’Electricité (Somelec). The World Bank approved a guarantee package for the gas to power project in May (AE 279/9). Somelec plans to export some 125MW to Senegal and 50MW to Mali. The existing interconnection can carry only 80MW, so a new high-voltage line is planned to increase capacity.
The total cost of the project is put at some €190m, made up of €80m on the Mauritanian side, €105m in Senegal and €5m for the joint supervision of the works. The Mauritanian element will be wholly financed by the AFD with a loan of €80m. The Senegalese works will be funded with €40m from the AFD, €60m from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and a €5.5m grant from the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund for the oversight element. The governments will meet the costs of compensation payments to affected populations, put at €600,000 for Mauritania and €2m-€8m for Senegal.
The Tender will be divided into four areas:
- Lot 1 involves the design, supply and installation of a 204km, 225kV line between the Nouakchott Centrale Nord substation and Keur Pèr, along with a 225kV/90kV substation at Béni Nadji and the extension of the existing 225kV Nouakchott substation. This lot will be financed by the AFD.
- Lot 2 involves the design, supply and installation of a 74km, 225kV line between Keur Pèr and Saint Louis, along with a 225kV/30kV substation at Saint Louis Est, and the extension of the existing 25kV substation at Tobène. This lot will be financed by the AFD.
- Lot 3 involves a 144km, 225kV line between Saint Louis and Tobène, with financing from the IDB.
- Lot 4 involves supervision of the works in Lots 1-3. [The call for expressions of interest to determine pre-qualified companies for Lot 4 has already closed.]
The full notice for expressions of interest may be viewed at http://tenders.afd.dgmarket.com/tenders/np-notice.do?noticeId=11700414.
Point of contact: Interested applicants may obtain further information from:
Primary Contact at SENELEC (Senegal):
Name: Mr. Djili FALL
Address: Cellule de Passation des Marchés
28, Rue Vincens
DAKAR, Sénégal
Telephone: +221 33839 31 30
Email: djily.fall@senelec.sn
Web Site: http://senelec.sn
For further information/assistance, U.S. companies and their subsidiaries & partners may contact:
Contact (Mauritania): La Société Mauritanienne d’Electricité (SOMELEC)
Address: 47, Avenue de l’Indépendance
BP 355 Nouakchott
République Islamique de Mauritanie
Fax: +222 45 25 39 95
Email: lignehtmrsn@somelec.mr
Contact: Le Conseiller du Directeur Général chargé des marches (Advisor to the Director General of Markets) ou le Directeur d’Exécution des Projets (Director of Project Implementation)
Contact (Senegal): La Société d’Electricité du Sénégal (SENELEC)
Address: 28, rue Vincens
BP 93 Dakar
République du Sénégal
Fax: +221 823.12.67
Email: lignehtmrsn@senelec.sn
Contact: Le Directeur de l’équipement et de l’environnement (Director of Equipment & Environment)