Senegal moved closer to joining the global wind family as the first Vestas turbine components arrived for a debut utility-scale project that will add 15% to its electricity generation base.

Developer Lekela is building the 159MW Parc Eolien Taiba N’Diaye (PETN) with a planned switch-on date later this year for the first of its 46, 3.45MW turbines.

Once fully operational the wind farm will deliver 450GWh annually to the West African nation’s grid, boosting its capacity by 15%, said Lekela.

A ceremony to mark the components’ arrival at the Port of Dakar was attended by the country’s energy minister and senior officials from the companies involved.

The project is a key part of the Senegalese government’s Plan Senegal Emergent programme for the country’s economic development.