“What I can say today is that we do not need Karpower because we have options, and this business is just like a market with different salesmen selling the same commodities. So you go and buy from the cheapest commodity,” he said.
He noted that because of this, they are not extending the contract any further and that they have options in the market where they could buy from the cheapest source.
He affirmed that NAWEC has on 2 May 2025, formally concluded its power supply agreement with Karpowership, making the end of a seven-year partnership that began in 2018.
This development, he said, aligns with NAWEC’s energy transition strategy, supported by major infrastructure upgrades including the commissioning of new power stations and regional and regional interconnection via the OMVG network.
However, he said that Karpowership is welcomed should in case they want to stay in the country where they will agree with a price that is competitive in the current market.
He added that NAWEC is now able to evacuate power from Brikama to Banjul and that NAWEC has new generators in Brikama and Kotou power stations that can also provide power with competent engineers at NAWEC.
He explained that Karpowership came in 2018 when there was a pressing need for its services which was meant for temporal basis, adding that they had been reliable and did a good job.
He noted that the power supply is better off today with personnel who can do the job, adding that there is need to focus on what is good for Gambians as far as power supply is concerned. He acknowledged that the decision to end the contract with Karpowership was not a light one.
However, he assured that NAWEC is confident that the job could be done with the absence of Karpowership. He added that they would still bring more of their generators for efficient power supply with a capacity of over 50 megawatts.
“Right now, we are taking power from Conakry, Senegal and we have a solar power at Jambour village and we are looking on very close in getting power from Abidjan and many more,” he disclosed, adding that the market is big to explore.
