Decades
have gone by, time has elapsed, and yet the same problem continues and for as
long as we do not shift our energy outlook; affordable, reliable, and
sustainable energy (electricity) supply will remain elusive in the Gambia,
commendable concerted remedial efforts such as Karpower notwithstanding. A new
energy outlook or positioning, the “Energy-Shift” must begin with the biggest
consumer (relative to singularity spending on energy), the government.
Relatively, without reliable statistics but basing my postulation on deductive
reasoning, and approximation of scale of consumption, it is reasonable to
relegate the largest energy consumer to the government setting aside the
private sector. The government is not limited to the central government but
also the two municipal and regional governments in all five regions in the
country. The central government coupled with the regional governments across
the Gambia put together are undoubtedly responsible for the consumption of a
significant energy percentage (%) output of the grid. Therefore, the Energy
Shift must begin with the government, hereafter referring to the central,
municipal and regional governments. In taking the lead for the Energy Shift the
government shall reduce dependence on the grid and reorient the population
towards the long sustained but purposeful march towards renewable energies.
This implies a new drive towards an energy generation mix for the country.
As
a reminder, it is instructive to note: “According to the World Bank Investment
Climate Assessment for The Gambia, the lack of a stable and extended
electricity system represented the most serious obstacle to business in the
country. Considering the continuing instability and fragility state of the
energy sector, it is likely that the unreliable provision of electricity
remains a major obstacle to economic expansion. Lack of access to electricity
also hinders social development and constrains the delivery of healthcare and
education services in the country (World Bank, 2009).” While we take note, while
we explore all sorts of remedies to address these challenges, I am of the
opinion extraordinary situations warrant extraordinary and innovative actions.
We can no longer wait for reports after reports to tell us what we already
know. Now, action is what is required. This ought to be a priority above only
food security. Electricity is a key driver for economic development and there
are no two ways about.
The
Gambia government ought to now resign itself to the fact that we as a nation
may not be able to ever provide affordable and sustainable supply of
electricity to the consumer with singular reliance on the national utility
company, NAWEC (This is not an indictment on NAWEC). In my humble opinion, the
only individual qualified to speak on NAWEC’s woes (certainly not me), is an
individual who has institutional memory of NAWEC, and equally not by proxy,
excepting PURA in any case. Placing the blame for NAWEC’s challenges at the
door step of one person can only happen after working a mile in the shoes of those
who have or had experienced running the institution, or the very least be
associated with the institution, or worked for it. A fact in the public domain
is that the institution suffers from capacity issues (here capacity is rather
abstract) but that is what was pronounced in the media as a key challenge for
NAWEC (PURA report in 2012 also spelled out key challenges). We will take these
admissible pronouncements on face value. Without a doubt NAWEC’s woes emanated
from maladministration of the Jammeh government (that is a story for another
day) Therefore, this piece is simply an opinion borne out of interest to
address a national concern.
The
Gambia, by the way, among the five countries, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cote
d’Ivoire, and Ghana, comparatively has the highest electricity tariff of 0.28
(US$/kWh), at today’s exchange rate that equals 14.27 (GMD/kWh), while regional
tariffs are 0.17, 0.20, 0.12, and 0.06 respectively. As at 2019, the global
average tariff is 0.14 and 0.12 (US$/kWh) for household and businesses
respectively (Globalpetrolprices, 2020), Gambia’s tariff is twice the global
average. High cost of electricity has its own economic implications which are
outside the scope of this piece. That will be a matter in another piece.
However, the cost of electricity, in the wider scheme of things is not a
primary concern for Gambians. The consumer behavior for willingness to buy is a
function of motivation. If supply is guaranteed (which is what Gambians seek),
the consumer will be motivated to find means to purchase. In Gambia’s case, the
supply is far from dependable; it is erratic to say the least. The issue is
unreliable energy supply marred with interminable load sharing derived often
from inextricable scheduled maintenance of the power machines. Supply is also
often interrupted because of breakdown(s) of antiquated machines that we are
told have long served their useful purpose post-colonial era. For decades on
end the same machines are kept just spluttering on until help comes; help is
far in coming. The difficulties with electricity supply is the single
existential threat to economic development of the country.
The
proposition is, since there is little supply of electricity to go around in the
Greater Banjul Area, comparatively the most electrified part of the country,
the industrial hub, the seat of government, and most populous part of the
country with 60% of the population, government as the supplier of essential
services ought to shift resources for the development of renewables for the
Greater Banjul Area. How might the government accomplish this?
The
government should now undertake a shift (to benefit from a diversified energy
mix) and rewire the entire government outfits across the country (in phases)
for solar power or the most viable renewables that is fit for purpose. For
example, the whole of Quadrangle, the Ministry of Education (MoBSE) and schools
under its docket in phases, the Police headquarters and all ministries along
the stretch of Marina Parade to the Supreme Court, further on to the National
Assembly should be taken off grid for a sustainable source of electricity. This
writer’s own employer, UTG is not exempted from being taken off the grid. This
will reduce demand on NAWEC, a win-win situation for NAWEC and the private
consumers. NAWEC’s total output will be dedicated to private consumers who may
now share the load that would have been consumed by the government. NAWEC will
benefit in scaling up its resources for efficiency as the pressure of demand is
downsized to equal relative capacity. Symbolically, the government will also
send a strong message for energy shift that may have a snowball effect of the
private sector shifting from the grid. This may also contribute (however
little) to environmental performance in the reduction of carbon emission. In
the long run this contribution will rise to significance in improving the
carbon footprints of the nation.
This
proposed shift is also in line with PAGE (Program for Accelerated Growth and
Employment). PAGE was designed with a singular overarching aim for the
furtherance of cross-sectional socio-economic development. The government’s aim
vis-à-vis electricity is nothing less than increasing electricity generation,
enhanced access to electricity and improved operational efficiency. This is
expected to be achieved through four fundamentals ways: 1) providing reasonable
incentives and facilitation to promote private sector investment in
electricity-generation projects; 2) promoting efficient technologies in utility
companies to increase their operational efficiency; 3) undertaking the
replacement and upgrading of aging transmission and distribution systems; and
4) promoting the use of renewable energy technologies (such as wind, solar and
biomass), with emphasis on rural areas (MOFEA, 2011).
While
all efforts are being made on a regional and national level to ensure
sustainable electricity supply for socio-economic development of the entire
region, the reported pronouncements such as in the Nationally Appropriate
Mitigation Actions (NAMA) ought not to be slogans but pragmatic useful
outcomes. Objective number 4 above is the focus of this write-up. All pain
points of NAWEC are not illusions to anyone (better yet apart from capacity
challenges, were all challenges clearly identified?). Remedial efforts appear
not to bear any fruit in ensuring the effective functioning of the institution.
While efforts are being made to correct the issues whatever they may be with
NAWEC (Some of these challenges were highlighted in PURA report 2012), the
government should now redirect some resources for an energy shift program that
in the short term will take the government off the grid. The government should
pioneer in this direction for the nation to follow in understanding and
appreciating renewable energy.
The
paradigm is here called “Energy-Shift”. The gains for government will in the
long run safe on its energy bill; will also avoid the wrath of interruptions in
electricity supply; will avoid contributing to carbon emissions through standby
generators with a frequency of use that it is a misnomer to be called standby;
and above all, it will set a new precedent in the direction of gaining
environmental legitimacy and performance. With such a shift, Gambia may set a
model to be studied by the rest of the region if not continentally (although
Senegal is adanced stages working on a diversified energy mix). In the
meantime, NAWEC’s capacity challenges are best addressed inter alia with a
strong organizational commitment to item one (1) above: providing reasonable incentives
and facilitation to promote private sector investment in electricity-generation
projects. A complementarity of strong private investment in creation of a
diversified energy mix will ease the burden on NAWEC and by default increase
capacity and external collaboration for the institution. PURA along with NAWEC,
by way of the Ministry of Energy should take the lead in encouraging private
sector investment in electricity-generation projects. PURA can play a pivotal
rule in this direction. This can only make for a better Gambia and make
electricity challenges a thing of the past for a better economy and a happy
citizenry.