Nani Juwara, Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has appealed to communities across the country to provide lands to the company in other to be able to rollout its numerous electricity projects across the country.
The Nawec Supremo made this demand during the laying of the foundation stone of the Greater Banjul Area Transmission and Distribution Modernization Project held at Sukuta Salagi Forest Park on Saturday 5th June, 2021.
“The major challenge that Nawec is facing in terms of implementing projects is the issues of land acquisition and land ownership. Some of our projects have been significantly delayed due to this land issue and we are appealing to all communities in the country to see all these projects coming as their projects, as a national project that is going to benefit all and sundry from now to the future,” MD Juwara appealed.
He added: “We (Nawec) are appealing to all communities to give us the support so that these projects can be implemented on time.”
According to him, Nawec is targeting to provide electricity supply to over 600 communities throughout the country in the coming 36 months or before, adding it is the desire of the entire management and staff of Nawec to ensuring reliable, quality and affordable electricity supply countrywide as enshrined in the National Development Plan of the country.
Dilating on the laying of the foundation stone of the Greater Banjul Area Transmission and Distribution Modernization Project, MD Juwara disclosed that it is the hope of The Gambia Government and development partners to provide access to electricity countrywide by 2025; adding that the laying of the GBA Transmission and Distribution Modernization Project will be a key enabler in achieving universal access to electricity supply by 2025.
“As part of efforts to achieving universal access to electricity by 2025, Nawec and MBH Power have signed a contract for Laminkoto-Diabugu power bond project covering over 46 communities of which works are expected to commence before end of this year,” Nani Juwara revealed.
He described the GBA Transmission and Distribution Modernization Project as a milestone that will improve the dilapidated electricity infrastructure in the country, arguing that the project will meet the expectations of the Gambian people.
“This project is co-funded by the World Bank, European Union and European Investment Bank as part of the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Project (GERMP) at the tune of $23million. The contract is awarded to TBEA, through a competitive bidding process which includes the design, supply and installation of 17km of 225kv high-voltage transmission line from Brikama to Sukuta Salagi Forest Park,” said Managing Director of Nawec.
He continued “This project also includes 225kv to 33kv sub-station in Kotu with additional 33kv transmission lines that are going to be constructed to interface with the existing networks. The project includes the first ever modern state of earth National Control Center to be constructed in Brikama with a view to helping Nawec significantly in transforming the transmission and distribution network in the country.”
The aim of the project, according to him, is to enhance the transformation and distribution capabilities of Nawec in meeting international standards and it will improve Nawec discharging capacity, reduce technical losses, improve network stability and enable the utility to incorporate more renewable energy sources into the national grid. It will also create opportunities for Nawec to operate at the same transmission level as the OMVG network and assist Nawec in easily integrating with the West African Power Pool network.