Senegal Renewable Energy: Land Compensation Sparks Local Tensions

• Senegal aims for 40% renewable energy by 2030, but large projects like the Taïba Ndiaye wind farm raise questions about local benefits and land compensation.
• Despite hosting a 158.7 MW wind farm, residents of Taïba Ndiaye do not receive direct electricity benefits due to Senelec's exclusive distribution rights and "Take or Pay" contracts.
• Many local farmers lack formal land titles for parcels they consider family property, complicating compensation processes when infrastructure occupies agricultural land.
• Community members question whether negotiations for land and project benefits have been conducted satisfactorily on their behalf.
• Ensuring an equitable energy transition requires transparent land acquisition, fair compensation, and robust local benefit-sharing agreements.

For renewable energy projects to truly contribute to a national and just energy transition, developers and policymakers must prioritize transparent land acquisition processes, establish fair and comprehensive compensation frameworks, and implement robust local benefit-sharing agreements.

Senegal is pursuing an ambitious target to integrate 40% renewable energy into its national electricity system by 2030, a goal that is driving the development of large-scale projects across the country. While these installations, particularly in regions like Taïba Ndiaye and Bokhol, have delivered positive outcomes such as new agricultural equipment, enhanced social infrastructure, job creation, and innovative energy solutions, they have simultaneously brought to light critical issues. These include concerns over land tenure, compensation practices, local employment opportunities, and the equitable distribution of project benefits.

The fundamental question emerging from this transition is whether a national energy shift can truly be considered just for the communities that host these significant infrastructures. The experiences of these local populations underscore a growing tension between national development objectives and the specific impacts felt at the community level, prompting a re-evaluation of how benefits are shared and how local concerns are addressed.

The Taïba Ndiaye wind farm, located in the Thiès region, exemplifies many of these challenges. This facility features 46 turbines, each standing nearly 180 meters tall including the mast and blades, and occupies 42 hectares of land. With a capacity of 158.7 MW, the wind farm's output is entirely injected into the national grid, and its commissioning alone reportedly increased Senegal's national renewable electricity production capacity by 15%.

Cheikh Ahamadou Bamba Gueye, the director of the Taïba Ndiaye wind farm, confirmed that all electricity produced is purchased by Senelec, the national utility, under a “Take or Pay” contract. This contractual arrangement, however, creates a significant paradox for local residents: despite the turbines being situated on their ancestral lands, the surrounding villages do not receive direct electricity connections or any special provisions to benefit from the generated power. Maguette Ndiaye, a local land facilitator and agricultural producer, highlighted this disparity, noting that residents experience power cuts and pay for electricity at the same rates as other consumers nationwide.

The lack of direct electricity benefits for communities near the Taïba Ndiaye wind farm stems from the existing legal framework. Independent power producers, such as Infinity Power, are not permitted to construct their own distribution lines to directly connect villages; electricity distribution falls under Senelec's exclusive purview. This regulatory structure, while intended to streamline national distribution, inadvertently creates a disconnect between energy production sites and their immediate communities.

Compounding these issues is the complex landscape of land tenure. Many agricultural producers in Taïba Ndiaye cultivate parcels within the “domaine national,” or national domain. While these farmers often consider their plots as family property, having cultivated or inherited them over generations, they frequently lack formal land titles. Maguette Ndiaye, in her role, educates producers on the critical distinction between perceived family ownership and legally recognized title, a difference that becomes crucial when infrastructure projects require land acquisition and compensation. She questions whether negotiations for such projects adequately represent the interests of the local population, despite the principle that “everything is negotiated.”

Senegal's commitment to achieving 40% renewable energy by 2030 is a commendable step towards a sustainable future. However, the experiences in Taïba Ndiaye underscore that the success of this transition depends not only on technological advancement but also on ensuring social equity and justice for affected communities. The challenges related to land compensation, the absence of direct local benefits from energy production, and the level of community involvement in decision-making processes are paramount considerations.

For renewable energy projects to truly contribute to a national and just energy transition, developers and policymakers must prioritize transparent land acquisition processes, establish fair and comprehensive compensation frameworks, and implement robust local benefit-sharing agreements. Addressing these issues proactively is essential to mitigate social risks, foster community acceptance, and ensure that the benefits of renewable energy development are distributed equitably across all segments of society, aligning with evolving expectations for a truly inclusive energy future.

Lawyers advising on renewable energy projects in Senegal should scrutinize land acquisition processes, compensation frameworks, and local benefit-sharing agreements to mitigate social risks and ensure compliance with evolving expectations for equitable energy transition.

Source: Reporting based on SenePlus investigation.