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News and Events

  • 16 September 2021
  • By MOPE

Energy Minister and OMVG officials inspect project sites

Fafa Sanyang, minister of Petroleum and Energy, said government is committed to the provision of quality electricity supply, saying the project has opened the energy market. “The trend now in the world is countries coming together to solve their electricity challenges. This is by coming together and allowing energy trading.” “We want to break the boundaries to make sure that there is electricity interconnection. With these power lines, we can get energy from the hydropower from The Gambia River down to Guinea Conakry coming through Guinea Bissau and Casamance and it also goes down to Senegal and Mali.” Lamin Dibba, the minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, said: “We have been informed that work on the line from Tanaf in Senegal to Soma is completed and from Soma to Kaolack is almost completed. The contractor KEC has assured that in the next two months, work will be completed.” He added that there were some environmental issues including compensation to affected landowners. “There was not only an environmental problem but also social and economic problems. We had to look at both social and environmental impact and compensate people. So far, according to our records, we have compensated over D17 million as part of our compensation to Gambians whose lands are affected by this project,” he added, claiming that the Department of Forestry has also compensated some people. “We also have some concerns because some people are coming late when we have already done the database and compensated most of the people.” Ababacar Ndao, secretary general of OMVG, added "The governments of the four member states are working tirelessly in ensuring that the project is completed on time. At the end of the project, the electricity crisis we are encountering will become the thing of the past." Nani Juwara, the managing director of NAWEC said for many years “our population has been crying about unreliable electricity and very high cost for energy in our sub-region. However, with this project, we can be assured of electricity security in the sub-region and it’s an opportunity for all of us to be able to harness the electricity resources within the West Africa sub-region.” Mr Juwara said that the objectives is to have least-cost energy supply for the population so that we can attract investment into our various economies because there is a direct correlation between energy security and socio-economic development as well. Ramesh Babur, the contractor from KEC International said: “Most of the work at the sub-station has been completed and most of the poles have already been erected and works are going on at advanced stages.” The line starting from Soma to Tanaf sub-station in Casamance, he added, will be completed by 15th June, “Therefore, effective from 15th June you can take power from Kaolack to Soma and Soma to Tanaf.” Nicola Herbert, project manager Lot 7 of the OMVG 225 overhead line from Brikama to Soma, is also optimistic that the work will be completed soon. He said out of the 250 poles that are needed, 224 have already been erected. “Therefore, this means that we have 70% completed and we are looking to complete in October.” Rohey John Manjang, regional governor of LRR, said: “The OMVG project is one of the most important projects that we can celebrate because since the colonial time to now, we have been yearning for reliable energy but to no avail. “This is the most important foundation for The Gambia to step on the path to sustainable development.” The delegations visited Soma sub-station where the Engineers at the Soma sub-station informed the delegates that 90% of their work is completed and equipment has already been tested. Before progressing to Sy-Kunda, where one of the OMVG lines crosses the river and goes to Kaolack. The delegations later proceeded to Ndemban, Bwiam and Brikama The Gambia is set to enjoy uninterrupted electricity supply for the first time since the nation gained its independence, officials of The Gambia River Basin Organisation (OMVG) say, as contractors and engineers in Soma and other places are set to complete their work in October 2021.

MOPE HOLDS VALIDATION WORSHOP FOR THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY DRAFT BILL

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy hosted a validation workshop on the energy efficiency Law(bill) on May 18th 2023 at Tamala Beach Hotel. This workshop brought together relevant stakeholders from various ministries and organizations to discuss and dissect the bill.

Energy is a vital ingredient for the socioeconomic development of any country. Cognizant of this, the government of The Gambia, over the past years has been making significant efforts to provide reliable, adequate, affordable and sustainable energy services to its people. The successful implementation of the Energy efficiency bill is of great importance and a priority to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and to all stakeholders.

The formulation of the Energy efficiency bill is supported by World Bank Group and drafted by consultants from the Economic Consulting Associates (ECA) through the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to develop and implement a comprehensive energy efficiency program for the country.

In the opening ceremony Mr. Matarr Touray, an Energy Specialist from World Bank, spoke on the numerous benefits of energy efficiency especially with the changing electricity tariffs and fluctuating exchange rates. Mr. Touray stated “The law has been developed to inherently feature local context and the development of a robust institutional framework to address pertinent issues as it relates to energy efficiency, these include issues of gender mainstreaming, financing mechanisms and data to ensure that the bill is adequately and appropriately imbedded within the sector”.

In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Mrs Amie Njie Joof illuminated on the inefficient use of energy in our day to day lives, like leaving lights and air conditioners on in empty rooms, inefficient practices like these need to be curbed to ensure sustainable use of electricity.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted on the fact that resources are scares and that electricity is not provided to every community in the country, has resulted in the formulation of the policy on energy efficiency and conservation, which promotes the efficient and wise use of energy by every user, to save energy for use by others. As the saying goes, “energy saved is energy produced”.

 PS Njie also added that “since the promulgation of policies on energy efficiency and conservation as part of the National Energy Policy, numerous activities have been carried out on energy efficiency and conservation throughout the country.  Other activities include sensitization on energy efficiency and conservation, replacement of incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs and the promotion and distribution of improved cookstoves and rolling out the National Framework for Leapfrogging to Energy Efficient and Climate Friendly air Conditioners and Refrigerators Project. This project is intended to enhance energy efficiency in the country and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.

The Permanent Secretary in her conclusion indicated that the Energy Efficiency Bill once enacted into law, will serve as the bedrock for the country’s energy management system in the country.