GAMBIA – The Republic of Gambia has secured a total of US$66 million from the World Bank and ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project to improve access to electricity for its people.
The ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOREAP) is a US$225 million programme providing funding to Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Mali.
According to African Energy Portal, The Gambia is the only country that received a whole grant for its electricity project.
This grant, according to a report by Africa Energy Portal, will provide extension to distribute the OMVG 225kv transmission line from the substations to be located in Soma and Brikama.
The Gambia’s component specifically supports the detail design, supply, and installation of distribution networks from Soma and Brikama OMVG 225/33KV substations.
It also features the construction of 900km of 33/30KV medium voltage (MV) lines, 380 33KV/400 low voltage (LV) lines to expand grid coverage and maximize the number of new connections.
The Gambia electricity project will also cover the supply and installation of terminal connection equipment, smart prepayment meters including services dropped as well as ready boards for over 52, 000 low voltage customers.
The electricity project which is also co-sponsored by the World Bank and coordinated by ECOWAS through the Regional Coordination Unit working with National Project Implementation Units, will cover all communities within 100km radius of the two substations.
The Gambia’s electricity project was negotiated on behalf of The Gambia by the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum & Energy (MOPE), Mr. Lamin Camara.
This regional electricity project will be implemented in different phases and is part of a programme covering 11 countries namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Mauritania and Chad.
The Phase 1, which amounts to USD 225 million, of which The Gambia has been allocated of $66 million, will allow access to electricity to 1.1 million people in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali.
Last Month, the managing director of NAWEC and director general of SOLENER Technologies signed the ECOREAP Owner’s Engineer Contract of the Component for The Gambia, a key milestone in the project’s implementation.
This owner’s engineer will be the project supervisor that will prepare the bidding documents for the works and supervise the execution of the works, which will last 18 months.
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