Ensuring reliable, efficient and universal access to electricity supply is key and central in any development endeavour. This is not only a mere propaganda, but central in creating jobs and ensuring economic development.
In fact, Sustainable Development Goal 7 calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. This call did not leave any community behind.
While development and rapid expansion take centre stage, the government is also doing all it takes to ensure that it provides and connects more communities to the national grid.
It is in the news that the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy is on course in its rural electricity expansion to over 800 communities in the country. This development will not only boost the economic status of rural dwellers, but would also reduce rural-urban drift in search of social basic amenities.
It is fact that one key factor encouraging rural-urban drift is lack of amenities in the rural areas.
Since the start of the rural electricity expansion project, we’ve seen more development in rural areas.
According to the Minister, the upgrading of NAWEC’s transmission and distribution networks from 33KV to 225KV and the Control Centre interventions are on course, geared towards modernising the country’s electricity infrastructure and enhancing the quality of electricity supplies.
Globally, the number of people without access to energy declined from 1.14 billion in 2010 to 675 million in 2021. Asia was the major driver of this decline, as the deficit there shrank from 516 million in 2010 to 69 million in 2021. Meanwhile Africa saw only a marginal reduction of its non-electrified population from 591 million to 586 million during the same period, influenced by its rapidly increasing population.
We therefore commend the government and its partners in their drive to narrow the gap between those benefiting from the energy and those still without reliable energy. Let’s always remember that energy drives economies and sustains societies.