The
National Assembly Members (NAMs) on Thursday approved the loan agreement that
was signed by the government of The Gambia and the European Investment Bank to
finance The Gambia’s renewable energy project. The project will be implemented
by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
The
total cost of the project is 129,510,00. However, the 57 million euros was
signed as a loan.
Alagie Jawara, the NAM for Lower Badibou, said
this loan should serve its purpose for the benefit of the Gambian people,
arguing that all the tax payers in the country have right to get electricity
and potable drinking water.
Hon.
Jawara called on the monitoring committee at the Assembly to start monitoring
all the government projects across the country so that the members of the
parliament and the general public would know how far the projects are ongoing.
Sawaibou
Touray, the legislator for Wuli East, said that the government should look for
simple ways of getting the electricity and potable drinking water for its
citizens before taking loans from our development partners across the globe.
Alhagie
S. Darboe, NAM for Brikama North, acknowledged that the electricity is part of
life and all the sectors that are operating in The Gambia can’t go without the
electricity. He thus lauded the initiate as a good step.
Musa
Amul Nyassi, for Foni Kansala, said NAWEC needs to be monitored and put in
record all the loans that were signed on their behalf to see whether they have
been properly implemented.
Mambury
Njie, minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, who tabled the motion stated
that the renewable energy project will contribute to the enhancement and
improvement of The Gambia’s electricity supply and network consistent with the
National Development Plan priorities with respect to renewable and
modernisation of the energy sector.
He
added that the project has four objectives, which are to increase electricity
energy generation capacity through an on-grid utility scale solar photovoltaic
(PV) plant, with a total installed capacity of up to 20 mega watt to increase
the transmission and distribution capacity of energy power.
It
will also provide institutional support for the electricity sector and to
provide technical assistance for the implementation and installation of on-grid
and off-grid PV/ battery system.
Minister
Njie further said that the project would contribute immensely to the
development and improvement of electricity and electricity services in The
Gambia. “It would increase renewable energy; improve the security of power
supply and reduce technical losses.”
He
added that the project would further increase the electricity power supply
throughout the country as it plans to expand the national grid and connect it
with the regional power system. “It would also provide institutional support
for NAWEC and stakeholders hence improving efficiency in the energy sector.”
