Yesterday, President Adama Barrow inaugurated the Electricity Transmission and Distribution Modernisation Project in the Greater Banjul Area. This project, a collaboration between the Gambian government and international partners including the European Union, the World Bank, and the European Investment Bank aims to modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure.
In his address, President Barrow expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah for the occasion, noting that the project aligns with the country’s Diamond Jubilee Independence Day celebrations.
He acknowledged the collaboration between his government and international partners, including the European Union, the World Bank, and the European Investment Bank, stating, “We duly acknowledge and appreciate this valued partnership with these esteemed organisations and thank them most sincerely for their invaluable contributions to the welfare and development of our people.”
Highlighting the government’s commitment to the energy sector since 2017, President Barrow remarked, “These eight years of commitment and investment in the sector have yielded high dividends, noting that we now enjoy more stable power supply, compared to the past.”
He further emphasized the modernization of the transmission network, stating, “Since attaining Independence in 1965, our transmission network was limited to thirty-three (33) Kilo Volts. As I speak, this has been modernised and upgraded to two hundred and twenty-five (225) Kilo Volts! This makes the occasion very historic indeed.”
The President outlined the project’s objectives, including transforming the power supply system from analogue to digital, enhancing resilience, and laying the foundation for a national electricity grid. He noted, “The project will transform the country’s power supply system from an analogue system to a digital system. It will also make the power supply system much more robust and resilient, thus enhancing efficient communications and operation of the network.”
Addressing future plans, President Barrow mentioned the completion of the Eastern backbone to finalize the national grid, stating, “In view of the completion of this project, we now have to work on the Eastern backbone to complete the national grid. Already, the feasibility study of this phase is now complete.”
He also discussed the interconnection with the OMVG power transmission network and the West African Power Pool, stating, “Another very important benefit of this project is that it will inter-connect the country’s power supply system with the OMVG power transmission network and, eventually, with the larger West African Power Pool network.”
Regarding the country’s renewable energy goals, President Barrow emphasized the need for a robust national electricity grid, stating, “Considering The Gambia’s commitment to energy transition and the achievement of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the country has ambitious plans for high penetration of variable renewable energy. These ambitious renewable energy targets are achievable only with a robust and modernised national electricity grid, which this High Voltage infrastructure can provide.”
He reiterated the government’s goal of achieving universal access to electricity by the end of 2025, stating, “With determination, we will continue to strengthen and expand our electricity grid and access to attain our ambitious goal of Universal Access by end-2025.”
Concluding his address, President Barrow called for the protection and maintenance of the new infrastructure, stating, “Despite its magnitude and importance, however, as a nation, deriving maximum benefit from this vital infrastructure depends largely on how it is operated and maintained.”
He urged the management and staff of NAWEC to efficiently operate and protect the infrastructure, stating, “It is hoped, therefore, that the management and staff of NAWEC will not only efficiently operate and maintain it, but also jealously protect it for the benefit of the whole nation.”
