Populations are in danger in the Allou Kagne area and surrounding areas. In the forest of this locality, vandals have dismantled Senelec electricity pylons. They are dismantling the corners. Beyond the disruption of the electricity supply, the attack on these electrical installations leaves dangers hanging. There are also industrial units that will be affected, which could lead to a drop in production, followed by technical unemployment of employees.

In view of the extent of the deterioration of the facilities and the dangers, the competent authorities carried out a field visit on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. The objective is to assess the security and technical consequences of these uncivil acts. The authorities also want to take this opportunity to encourage people to become aware and to fight against these uncivil acts.

"An unprecedented event: acts of vandalism are being perpetrated on our transmission lines. This involves sabotage and theft of corner irons," denounced Mam Singi Sarr, Director of Energy Transmission at Senelec.

Danger of death

The line that was sabotaged is of capital importance. It runs from Sococim to Tobène. Along its route, it supplies large industrial companies such as Sométa, Simaf, passing through Thiès, factories that employ many young people in this country.

"So if this line is vandalized and ends up on the ground, because that will be the direct consequence, it will go to ruin, the damage is immeasurable. It will create bush fires, it could kill animals, human beings," he warns.

Report the perpetrators

Should we get to that point? In any case, it is not desirable. But the population should play the game by denouncing the perpetrators. "People should not be silent in the face of these acts. They must denounce, they must be able to support Senelec, support public security so that it can identify the perpetrators of these acts of vandalism," argued Mr. Sarr.

The head of the Transport Network Maintenance department, Momar Awa Sall, does not mince his words when he states: "with what is happening on the 90 kilowatt high-voltage network, we realize that there is sabotage at the limit and a lot of attacks on the high-voltage pylons. Many angles have been removed from these pylons, suddenly, the metal structure is completely weakened, with legs completely buckled, boned, therefore deformed, for lack of angles to reinforce these legs and allow the pylons to hold properly."

A line that cost Senelec 10 billion CFA francs

He thinks that these people who commit these acts of vandalism do not know the stakes of this high-voltage line, built in 2022 and which cost Senelec around 10 billion FCFA. A line that goes from Dakar (Sococim) to Thiès (Tobène), to secure the supply of electrical energy, like the energy highways where we pass the great power to serve the populations.

"These acts of vandalism, which are not isolated operations, must stop, because we suffered the same events on a 225,000 volt high-voltage line, which runs from Tobène to Touba, 2 years ago and Senelec invested to be able to secure this line again," recalls Momar Awa Sall. After informing the competent authorities, Senelec decided to file a complaint against the perpetrators of these acts of vandalism.

However, awareness-raising actions will be strengthened. "We are going to raise awareness among the population. The goal is to encourage them to denounce these acts of vandalism," he said.