By: Mariama Njie
President Adama Barrow on Saturday inaugurated the Electricity Expansion Project in Kiang Kwinella which worth over 22.5 million US Dollars, funded by Exim Bank of India.
The implementation of this first phase started in 2017, and the project covers seventy-seven (77) communities, Fourteen (14) of these are in Kiang, and sixty-three (63) are in the West Coast Region while the second phase of the project will cover additional communities in Kiang Central, Kiang West and Kiang East by early 2021.
Speaking, at the ceremony, President Adama Barrow said: “It is indeed a key milestone in the Government’s drive towards achieving universal access to electricity in The Gambia by 2025.”
President Barrow stated that there cannot be any meaningful development in any nation without the required volume of energy generated to support its national projects and programmes, business enterprises and industry.
He added that “It is a confirmation of my government’s sincerity to its promise of change, and its devotion to developing the entire Gambian nation through the National Development Plan (NDP) we developed together.”
He said three years ago electricity supply was a nightmare in the Greater Banjul Area, and did not exist at all in most parts of the country.
“Today, we are able to provide a reliable supply of electricity in most parts of the Greater Banjul Area and in many other areas of the country. As we pursue our countrywide electrification agenda, Kiang has now been added to the list of beneficiaries,” he said.
The Gambia president commended the government of the Republic of India for providing the funds for this project through EXIM Bank of India and the Ministries of Petroleum and Energy, Finance and Economic Affairs and NAWEC for the effective and successful implementation of the project.
Nani Juwara, Managing Director of National Water Electricity Company ( NAWEC) said: “we are proud to announced to the whole world that the government of The Gambia and NAWEC has finally delivered to the people of Kiang what they have been yearning for since the birth of this nation.”
He explained that the project is part of series of projects NAWEC is implementing through funding from the government and donor partners to provide at least 85% coverage in terms of access to electricity country wide within the next five years.
“It is a hope that the people of Kiang and other beneficiary communities will take full advantage of the opportunity accorded to them,” he added.
The contractor for the project is KEI from India and consultant is VOYANT Solution also from India, the President disclosed.
