Gwangju City is launching an official development assistance (ODA) project to apply its experience in operating energy self-sufficient villages to rural areas in Senegal.
On September 4, Gwangju City announced that its project, titled 'Strengthening Energy Self-Sufficiency Capacity for Rural Development in Senegal,' has been selected as a main project in the ODA public cooperation initiative led by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The project will be overseen by Korea Electric Power Corporation KDN, with participation from Gwangju City, Dongshin University, Jeonnam Technopark, and IoT Plus.
Spanning from 2026 to 2030, the project has a total budget of 6.9 billion won. It aims to establish a renewable energy-based power supply system in rural Senegal, integrating water supply, agricultural water, and storage facilities into a self-sufficient energy-water-agriculture model.
Gwangju City plans to adapt its existing 'energy self-sufficient village' model to the local environment and living conditions in Senegal.
The initiative will create a foundation for residents to produce and utilize renewable energy, linking energy production to income-generating activities such as agriculture, thereby establishing a sustainable self-sufficiency base in rural areas.
The project will also focus on improving living conditions in the target areas. To reduce the burden of costs associated with unstable power supply and reliance on diesel generators, a renewable energy-based power supply system will be established, along with water supply facilities and agricultural water supply systems.
Cold storage facilities will be built to minimize losses after agricultural harvests. The plan aims to enhance project effectiveness by connecting stable power supply to drinking water and agricultural production and distribution infrastructure.
A key aspect of the project is to create a system that can be operated independently by local communities after the facilities are established.
In collaboration with local universities, the project will train 60 technical professionals and establish a structure for community organizations to participate in the operation and maintenance of the facilities. The project aims to establish a local operational system centered around the Senegalese renewable energy agency, ANER, ensuring the facilities remain in use even after the project concludes.
Gwangju City plans to develop this project into an international cooperation model that applies local energy technology and industrial capabilities abroad while expanding opportunities for local businesses to enter overseas markets.
Shin Hyun-gon, the international cooperation officer of Gwangju City, stated, "This project localizes the experience and technology of energy self-sufficient villages accumulated in Gwangju to the rural conditions of Senegal. We will continue to discover ODA projects linked to local industries and technologies, strengthening our international cooperation capabilities while broadening opportunities for local businesses to expand overseas."
Meanwhile, Gwangju City is expanding international development cooperation projects utilizing its industrial and technological foundations in energy, agriculture, and bio sectors, while also promoting strategies to link these efforts with local businesses' entry into overseas markets.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.