By Binta Jaiteh
Nani Juwara, managing director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has revealed that the Nawec management was able to increase electricity production from 327,060 in 2018 to 380,371MWH in 2019, an increase of about 16.30% respectively.
Speaking at the National Assembly in Banjul as he presented the activity reports of 2017, 2018, and 2019 to the Assembly select committee on public enterprise, he told the members about their focus. Saying, as management in 2019 was to consolidate on the gains registered in power supply since the change of government in 2017. The demand for their services continues to increase significantly because of the booming construction industry and the increase in business activity after the democratic change of government in 2017. Despite this huge increase in demand which was unfortunately not matched by the available generation capacity due to the old age of many of the generators, NAWEC was able to maintain relative stability for most part of the year.
Adding that, this is possible, thanks to the continuous availability of the 30MW KARPOWERSHIP which started operation in May 2018, and also the availability of the newly commissioned 12MW generator number five at the Kotu power station. The main challenge faced during the year under review in terms of generator availability was the delay in receiving spare parts for the required scheduled maintenance due to budgetary constraints.
“The wear and tear most of the aged generating sets increased and it was extremely difficult to source genuine parts overseas as some of the parts are no more being manufactured,” he added
However, a consignment of the low level of access to electricity service countrywide management with the support of The Gambia started the implementation of an electricity expansion project (EEP) funded through the Exim of Bank of India’s line of credit at a tune of over USD22.5million the scope includes the electrification of over seventy-seven (77) communities both within the Greater Banjul Area and for the first time in the Kiang.
He explained further that the project when fully completed and commissioned will change the lives and livelihood of the beneficiaries’ communities as this would be the first time that, they will have access to electricity. Water supply was one of the biggest challenges faced by management as the demand outweigh the supply significantly leading to most communities within the GBA going for hours or days without regular supply. In order to ameliorate the supply deficit, management started the implementation of a USD22.5 million Exim bank of India-funded water project.
He said the project objective was among within the GBA and NBR and also to increase water production with additional boreholes. The main highlight in reforming our finances in 2019 was the debt restructuring arrangement entered into between NAWEC and The Gambia government where 75% of NAWEC’s debt was taken over by obligations and will help in attracting private sector investment in the sector.