Chinese Government provides grant for Affiniam Dam Rehabilitation Project

Project narrative

On July 21, 2018, the Chinese Government and the Government of Senegal signed letters of exchange related to the Affiniam Dam Rehabilitation Project. This project was funded from the grant proceeds in an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) the Chinese Government and the Government of Senegal signed on November 18, 2016. This project involved the rehabilitation of Affiniam Dam, which is located about 20 kilometers northwest of Ziguinchor. China Railway N°8 Engineering Company (CREC8) was the contractor responsible for implementation. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was organized on November 20, 2019 and it was originally anticipated that the project implementation period would be 7 months. However, the project was completed and handed over on September 18, 2020. According to Senegalese media - Teranga News, the project was completed at an estimated cost of 52,605,001 Yuan. The Chinese project title is 阿菲尼亚姆水坝修缮项目. The French project title is la réhabilitation du barrage d’Affiniam. The Affiniam Anti-Salt Dam was completed in 1988 with financial support of China. It is estimated to have cost about FCFA 10 billion (approximately $21 million). Its construction allowed for the protection of about 12,000 hectares of potential rice-growing lands from salt intrusion.