The government of Senegal has approved a pilot project for Bitcoin mining, aiming to monetize surplus renewable energy. The initiative, authorized by the Prime Minister’s Office around September 14, 2026, seeks to utilize idle power to support rural electrification while generating foreign currency.
This development coincides with Senegal's ongoing efforts to restructure its external debt under the G20 Common Framework. The country's public debt has reached approximately 130% of GDP, with estimates of undisclosed debt ranging from $11 billion to $13 billion.
Senegal is currently negotiating a three-year, $2.2 billion program with the International Monetary Fund. The government aims to finalize an agreement with creditors and bondholders by December 2026, targeting $5.2 billion in outstanding bonds and CFA 1 trillion ($1.72 billion) in swaps.
As of October 12, 2026, no specific mining operators have been named, and no capacity figures for the pilot have been disclosed. Analysts note that the project remains in an early stage, and its potential impact on the national debt remains theoretical given the volatility of Bitcoin mining revenue.
