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The World Bank is seeking expressions of interest from consultants to carry out a study on power sector reform and restructuring of the state Société Mauritanienne d’Electricité (Somelec). The Bank’s International Development Association has sought grant funding from the Public-Private Infrastructure Facility for a study on sector reform and Somelec restructuring, with a view to increasing the role of the private sector.

Libya plans a huge power development programme to mark the 40th anniversary of Muammar Qadhafi’s takeover in 2009 and to triple generation capacity by 2016, writes John Hamilton, recently in Tripoli.

Bujagali Energy Ltd (BEL) has closed financing on a $682m construction debt facility for the 250MW Bujagali hydropower project (AE 129/22). Multilateral and bilateral debt will be provided by the European Investment Bank, International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, Dutch development agency Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelinsslanden (FMO), France’s Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Cooperation Economique (Proparco) and Agence Française de Développement, and Germany’s Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau. Commercial debt will be provided by Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays/Absa Capital, with partial risk guarantee cover provided by the World Bank’s International Development Association.

Office National d’Electricité (ONE) is close to finalising a management contract for rural electrification in northern Senegal.

President Nicolas Sarkozy has said France is prepared to help Egypt develop civil nuclear power. “Egypt has considerable energy needs and it naturally envisages building nuclear reactors,” Sarkozy told Al-Ahram in a pre-visit interview.

The decision by Senegal’s new government to cancel major contracts with foreign investors sends a worrying signal. Hydro-Québec told Thalia Griffiths it would steer clear of further expansion in the region for now.