The major energy resources in Gambia are firewood, electricity, petroleum imports, Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). Due to the rapid population growth, demand for energy has far outstripped the ability of the state owned utility, NAWEC, to supply the country. However, there have been some appreciable achievements in the provision of electricity services in recent years.
The Electricity Sub-sector
The main objective that the Gambia government strives to achieve for this important sector is the provision of efficient, reliable and affordable energy that is sustainable and environmentally sound.
Renewable Energy
The government has established Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC) and seeks to collaborate with interested entities for the development of renewable energy through Research and Development. The government is encouraging use of other energy sources and at the moment utilisation of solar PV equipment is increasing in the country for both industrial, commercial and domestic uses (the country receives 2,500 hours of sunshine yearly); use of biomass is also on the increase though it tends to be restricted to agricultural waste such as saw dust, groundnut shells, straw. Use of windmills for powering water pumps is also encouraged and is increasing throughout the country.
Investment Opportunities
- Increase of generating capacity that is presently inadequate
- Capital investment to improve the poor state of the transmission and distribution system which result in high technical losses and un-metered consumption estimated at about 40%
- Improving efficiencies so as to reduce the extremely high cost of energy estimated at an average of US$0.18
- Encouraging green energy through use of Solar Energy and windmills
Courtesy of The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency