SENELEC faces over 600 billion FCFA in unpaid public debt

SENELEC, Senegal’s national electricity provider, is facing a massive debt burden exceeding 600 billion FCFA due to unpaid bills from public entities and state-mandated tariff compensations.

According to data presented by SENELEC workers and the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, the debt is composed of several key components: over 182 billion FCFA in unpaid consumption by the central administration, local authorities, autonomous agencies, and public lighting; 391 billion FCFA in tariff compensations owed by the state to cover the gap between production costs and consumer prices; approximately 60 billion FCFA related to electricity exports; and about 9 billion FCFA owed by rural electrification concessionaires.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the state acts simultaneously as the regulator, shareholder, and a major debtor. Public institutions such as hospitals, universities, and ministries often lack sufficient budget credits to settle their accounts, and cutting power to these essential services is difficult. This accumulation of arrears coincides with rising fuel costs and increased power outages in Dakar and other regions.