Through the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), the Government of The Gambia has inaugurated a 23MW solar PV plant in Jambur, situated in the Kombo North District in the West Coast region.
The system also incorporates an 8MWh battery energy storage system and will provide both on-grid and off-grid operations to local schools and health centres.
The clean energy generation plant, the first of its kind for the West African country, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to environmental protection. All this while increasing the country’s energy independence and strengthening the stability and reliability of The Gambia’s power grid.
The achievement also demonstrates progress on The Gambia’s part in trying to pursue a clean energy transition and move towards a greener and more sustainable energy future.
Adama Barrow, the President of the Republic of The Gambia, who presided over the inauguration ceremony, said: “The Jambur solar plant is a symbol of our commitment to a cleaner, brighter future for The Gambia.”
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The inauguration ceremony of the solar PV plant, which took place on Saturday 9 March 2024 was conducted alongside the European Investment Bank, the European Union and the World Bank which all made significant contributions to the project.
The landmark achievement in collaboration with NAWEC under the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project Component 1 represents a great step forward in trying to diversify The Gambia’s energy mix.
With an energy mix primarily dominated by biomass and imported fossil fuels, this project allows the country to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels (the country uses a combination of diesel and heavy fuel oil at its five power stations that feed the national grid.)
Next the country is planning the 150MW Soma Solar Power Station, with help from ECOWAS (as developer) and the World Bank and EIB, close to the Soma substation completed under the OMVG interconnection project.
