AXIAN Energy held the official foundation stone laying ceremony for the NEA Kolda solar power plant on Thursday, May 22, 2025, marking the start of construction. The site is located in southern Senegal at Tankanto Escale, in the Kolda region, approximately 700 km from Dakar.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the authorities of the Kolda region, alongside the local communities, the first beneficiaries of this high-impact project.
A strategic lever for the energy transition in Senegal
At a time when Senegal has set itself the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to 40% by 2030, NEA Kolda is said to be a major pillar of this ambition. With an installed capacity of 60 MW, complemented by a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 72 MWh, the project is establishing itself as a regional benchmark in energy innovation.
The plant will help secure the electricity supply of more than 235,000 people while strengthening the resilience of the national grid in the face of consumption peaks. This project reflects the authorities’ commitment to cleaner, more accessible, and more affordable energy.
An alliance of strategic actors
The success of the NEA Kolda project is based on close collaboration between key partners in the energy sector and leading investors. In October 2024, the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO), and Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) granted €84 million in financing to support the implementation of this strategic infrastructure. The total investment cost now stands at nearly €105 million.
The construction of all the energy production and storage infrastructure for the NEA Kolda project has been entrusted to the Voltalia–Entech consortium, two leading players in the field of renewable energy.
This collective mobilisation is part of a broader continental dynamic of energy transition aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the share of renewable energies on the African continent.
Benjamin Memmi, CEO of AXIAN Energy, said: ” I am particularly proud and happy today to lay this first stone alongside all our partners who have demonstrated constant support in the implementation of this emblematic project. Driven by a sustainable vision and focused on the real needs of the regions, this project embodies a new generation of energy infrastructure in West Africa, combining inclusion, innovation, and territorial impact. This step marks the beginning of a structuring project that will contribute sustainably to Senegal’s energy autonomy.”
A driver of economic and social transformation
True to its commitment to delivering high-impact projects for local communities, AXIAN Energy places human and economic development at the heart of its initiatives. The NEA Kolda project is a concrete example of this. Beyond energy production, this infrastructure acts as a true driver of social and economic transformation for the Casamance region.
The project also includes an ambitious CSR action plan structured around five axes:
Access to health,
Social and educational success,
Economic development,
The promotion of sport and culture,
Climate change management.
AXIAN Energy has reportedly invested nearly 2 billion FCFA in a series of high-impact social initiatives, designed to support the most vulnerable populations towards sustainable autonomy:
Strengthening economic autonomy
Financial management training was organised to enable beneficiaries, particularly women and young people, to better manage their income, structure their activities and develop a long-term entrepreneurial culture.
Support for sustainable agricultural practices
To strengthen food security and communities’ productive capacity, training sessions on sustainable farming techniques were organised, along with seed distribution. These actions enabled farmers to adopt better agricultural practices, increase their yields, and better manage natural resources, while promoting their economic autonomy.
Support for the development of the livestock sector
To support the development of livestock farming, several infrastructures and support measures have been put in place: construction of a vaccination park, distribution of veterinary equipment, training of breeders, creation of a production track to open up livestock areas, as well as the installation of watering troughs. These interventions have contributed to improving animal health, facilitating access to veterinary services, and strengthening the resilience of breeders in the face of climatic hazards.
Upcoming flagship community projects include the construction of a maternity centre, which will provide safe access to quality care for women and newborns, as well as the establishment of sports infrastructure designed to promote the positive values of sport: self-improvement, team spirit and solidarity.
Beyond its energy impact, the NEA Kolda project will also play a key role in strengthening local employability. Nearly 400 talented individuals from the region will be mobilized to participate in the construction of the plant, and then in its operational management once it is commissioned, thus contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic development.
Maïramou Haman Adji, Impact & Sustainability Manager at AXIAN Energy, said: “At AXIAN Energy, we are convinced that energy is an accelerator of territorial transformation. This is why the launch of the NEA Kolda power plant is accompanied by an ambitious CSR program, focused on sustainable food and economic autonomy, so that this infrastructure directly benefits local communities. Our mission is to make each project a source of human progress, serving an inclusive energy transition deeply rooted in African territories.”