The Senegalese State has achieved a saving of 4.5 billion FCFA over the last four years, thanks to the energy efficiency actions carried out by the Agency for the Economy and Control of Energy (AEME), said Tuesday in Diourbel, the director general of the said agency, Saër Diop. "The energy efficiency actions implemented by the AEME have made it possible to achieve financial savings of the order of 4.5 billion FCFA for the State over the last four years," he said. He was speaking at the presentation of the results of the programme for the analysis, monitoring and reduction of public sector electricity expenditure (SARDEL), at a meeting of the Regional Development Committee (CRD). According to him, "the promotion of the rational use of energy for the control of demand is one of the key levers of the recovery plan for the energy sector".

With this approach, he points out, the government is aiming for another objective, the reduction of the electricity bill between 10 and 15%. He noted that this programme, which is mainly concerned with public buildings, has been able to correct certain anomalies and make savings on behalf of the State. "In 2019, just on the correction of billing anomalies, for example the modification of subscribed powers, the AEME saved 988 million CFA francs to the State of Senegal," he noted. Also, a saving of 4.475 billion was achieved at the end of October 2020 thanks to the AEME on the 198 thousand LED lamps. "These savings will undoubtedly make it possible to finance energy efficiency projects, social programs and economic development projects to improve the well-being of the population," said Saër Diop. In general, he said, the AEME intends to contribute to the rationalization of public spending, which is one of the priorities of the country's highest authorities. FD/MD/ASG