By: Sulayman Waan
President Adama Barrow on Saturday 23rd February, 2019 laid the foundation stone of The Gambia River Basin Development Organization (OMVG)’s substation at Soma Town, launched the construction project held in Soma in the Lower River Region.
The project aimed to address the Power shortages in the country and reduce fossil fuel to preserve the environment, designed to link the Northern and South-Eastern part of the country’s energy network so as to access energy to the entire masses within that energy coverage.
The OMVG is a sub-regional institution with four member states comprising The Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Guinea- Bissau and Senegal. The project including the Dam construction cost €1.2m but the construction of the 15 substations of the interconnection transmission lines within the member states cost €722 million of which the Soma Town substation is included.
The entire project has 225KV power transmission line and1677KM across the member states of which 183KM is in the Gambia.
Addressing the gathering, President Barrow said the project aimed to transform the country’s socio economic circumstances, describing electricity demand in the country ‘enough to highlight the significance of the energy project’.
He renewed his government’s commitment to accomplishing the National Development Plan through attracting investments, providing access to electricity and enhancing household energy security to ensure nation building.
“When the Soma substation is completed, it is expected to increase the current 40% access to electricity by 20% while increasing the generation capacity from 102MW to 250MW. It will also reduce the electricity losses in the country. However, this project will increase the guaranteed energy production without serious environmental consequences. Government is encouraging a major shift towards the use of renewable energy from 2% to 40%,” he said.
He said that his government has taken urgent measures to accelerate electricity generation to various outlets so as to close energy demand in the country, while described electricity as a major catalyst for national development.
He then said that the OMVG project has reenergized its activities to enhance and support the development of proper energy infrastructure within the member states.
Lassana Fofana, Commissioner of the High Commission of OMVG expressed gratitude to the member states for supporting the Commission in the implementation of the project, while appealed to them to endeavor in sustaining the project.
Fatou Jammeh Touray, Governor of LRR also said that the project is essential in improving the lives and livelihood of the masses and help in advancing the nation’s socio economic growth, especially in the rural areas of the country, adding that the initiative will boost the business industry.