Senegal risks fuel shortages and repeated power cuts without energy funding
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Le Soleil
Senegal’s Finance Ministry says the 250 billion CFA franc Special Support Fund for the Energy Sector has exhausted its credits and that amounts owed to Senelec are approaching 320 billion CFA francs. It warns that failure to pay subsidies could disrupt fuel supplies and electricity generation, according to responses sent to MPs.
Senegal’s Special Support Fund for the Energy Sector (FSE) has exhausted its 250 billion CFA francs in credits allocated for 2026, exposing the country to fuel shortages and repeated power cuts, according to the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning. The amounts owed to Senelec, the state electricity company, for commercial losses and fuel purchases are close to 320 billion CFA francs, excluding cases still under review by the Energy Sector Regulatory Commission.
The ministry warned that failure to pay subsidies could interrupt supplies of petroleum products and fuels for electricity generation to the domestic market. It said the risk of hydrocarbon shortages and major disruption to the electricity system would increase without urgent budgetary measures.
The 2026 supplementary finance bill (LFR) provides for an additional 540.3 billion CFA francs in credits to allow the FSE to resume its interventions and gradually reduce debts. Overall support for the energy sector would thus reach 790.3 billion CFA francs, according to responses sent to MPs.
The issue follows the rejection of the 2026 LFR by the finance committee on 23 October, followed by the return of the supplementary budget to committee on 27 October. Senegal’s committee rejected the supplementary budget again on 30 October.
