The
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs in collaboration with National Water
and Electricity Company (NAWEC) have launched a 17 million dollar electricity
access project for the country to contribute to government efforts in achieving
access to electricity by 2030.
Funded
by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the projects aims to provide
sustainable energy to all genders.
Permanent
secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Lamin Camara said the
overall beneficiaries of the project will be domestic households, small
businesses and public institutions to greatly reduce or eliminate the
connection charges while also deploying prepaid meters.
“The
project is expected to have a transformative impact on the short –term
affordability of gaining access in spirit of strengthening the capacity of
NAWEC to improve customer services delivery,” he said.
Minkailou
Halidou Toure, African Development Bank project team leader said financing the
project reflects the Bank’s sustained support to the development of The Gambia,
expressing the AfDB’s commitment to support the country in achieving universal
access to energy for the population.
“The
bank is among the lead financiers of the ambitious OMVG interconnection which
is currently under implementation. It is in line with this dynamic project to
build on the previous achievements aim to connect at least 61,000 -10, 00 for
AfDB financing- households through the densification and extension network from
soma and Brikama station,” he said.
He added that the ultimate objective of the
project is to increase Gambian population access to affordable and reliable
electricity service and it will involve the construction of medium and low
voltage lines erection to transformers and connection of customers in Lower
River, North Bank, Central River and West Coast Region.
“The
16,000 beneficiaries of the project will be households including women, small
businesses, public institutions, local government, high schools and health
centers in urban and rural areas,” he added.
Buah Saidy, Permanent Secretary at the
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs said the Gambia is a developing
country and its development and growth potentials have been impeded by
inadequate supply of affordable and reliable electricity.
He
assured that the government is resolved to address the problems to achieve
development aspirations. “Gambia Government attaches great importance to the
energy sector and it is not relenting in its efforts to resolve issues related
to the production and distribution of reliable and affordable electricity to
facilitate the socio-economic development of the country,” he said.
