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Senegal minister apologises for power cuts
Friday, 23 July 2010 13:24
Senegal's Energy Minister Samuel Sarr on Wednesday apologised for recurrent power cuts in the country, saying they
were "more than intolerable".With temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity, people's frustration boiled over at the weekend when an angry crowd took to the streets, burning tyres and barricading streets in clashes with police.
"The more than intolerable power cuts combined with rising temperatures and also Senegaleses' concern ahead of Ramadan (the Muslim fasting month which starts August 10) may justify their anger," Sarr told parliament after a week of protests.
The parliament meeting was broadcast live by public television.
Sarr said technical and financial problems of state-controlled energy provider Senelec warranted an apology.
But he added that the power cuts were above all due to the "accidental use" of contaminated fuel which had damaged engines that run power plants.
Steps had been taken to avoid a repeat of such a situation, he said.
As Senegal's ageing power plants are unable to keep up with rising demand, a 125 megawatt coal-fired plant is scheduled to be built and will only be ready by the end of 2012.
Source: Star Africa
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