2 minute read | October.20.2025
Orrick energy and infrastructure partner Hugues Martin-Sisteron spoke with IJGlobal about how the $64.3 million Teranga Niakhar project in Senegal can serve as a blueprint for future renewables projects in Africa. Energy development has been at the forefront of Senegal’s national agenda.
Financed entirely in CFA francs by an all-African lender consortium, the project highlights the growing capacity for African institutions to structure, finance and execute complex infrastructure projects.
“Niakhar has set a new standard: it’s a replicable model for the region, combining financial innovation, local leadership, and institutional credibility,” Hugues told IJGlobal. “It’s a turning point for how we think about African infrastructure – less dependent, more confident and increasingly self-sustaining.”
The project features innovative dual financing architecture, pairing Islamic finance (Murabaha Tawarruq) with conventional project finance -- and will generate 63.34GWh annually, delivering clean electricity to over 150,000 people.