NAWEC HOPEFUL TO ELECTRIFY THE ENTIRE GAMBIA
By Ousman A. Marong
Managing Director of National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), Baba Fatojo has said that hopefully within one year time the whole country would be electrified, " he said.
  He said the problem of water and electricity in the country should now be a thing of the past, saying now that electricity is the vehicle for development.

   Fatojo made this remarks at a recent press briefing held in NAWEC headquarters in Kanifing.
   "There are other projects to be running within the greater Banjul areas, with extension and hopefully within one year time the whole country be electrified, " he said.

   He asserted that NAWEC has gone a long a way towards improving services, and we went through some many challenging moments from 2017 to early 2018.

  He disclosed that NAWEC now have more than enough water and electricity supply capacity and have shifted their focus from transmission and distribution and working tirelessly in ensuring to end the problem of water electricity.

  He informed journalists that NAWEC had entered into an agreement with a Company call Karpowership Company that is now fully operating, coupled with the ongoing projects that are now running.

  He further said that the 9 mega watt is now in full service and they are now on the commissioning of another at Kotu power station.

  "We have connnected the greater Nuimi areas and they are now benefiting from 24 hours uninterrupted electricity supply."

  He explained that through rural electrification they have also extended from Barra to Kerewan with a view to bridging that gab,

The NAWEC boss said they have also made extension between Illiasa and Farafenni, hoping that in one year the entire North Bank Region will be enjoying 24 hour uninterrupted electricity supply too.
  He stated that they are going to extend connection from Farafenni to Basse, while the same project will again be extend from Bansang and connect it to Basse.

  He revealed that NAWEC signed $41 million grant at a donor conference held in Brussels and some of the money is going to be used in financing a project call Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization project.

  He said they are also working with World Bank and West Africa Power Pool in order to serve the whole country, adding there will be another lane to connect from Kaolack through Banjul and this will ensure easy accessibility and flexibility to connect the entire nation.

 

NAWEC MD Fatoje in the middle during the press briefing

held in NAWEC headquaters. ( Photo Credit Ousman A. Marong).

North Bank Benefits From Uninterrupted Electricity Supply

By Ousman A. Marong

The people of Lower Nuimi in the North Bank Region (NBR) have began to benefit from a 24 hours uninterrupted electricity supply following the launch of an interface  power connection called Senelec Karang Interconnection point.

National Electricity and Water Company (NAWEC) officially inaugurated Senelec electricity power supply in the Senegalese border town of Karang on Saturday, April 14, 2018.

The people of Barra, Essau, and the satellite villages are now connected to the 24 hours electricity supply called Senelec Karang Interconnection point.

“2017 has been a challenging year for Nawec as the machines we were using were not up to standard’ said the Managing Director of NAWEC, Mr. Baba Fatajo.

He made this remarks recently in a press conference held at the NAWEC Headquarters in Kanifing.

 “NAWEC was a heavily indebted company and we deem it necessarily as a company to also engage in cross border electrification connection like our sister countries, Ghana, Togo and Benin are doing.

Fatajo said they have since 2009 planned as but it could not be effected because there was no political will from the former regime.

The power connection resulted from a MoU signed between the government of The Gambia and Senegal.

The inauguration was witnessed by the NAWEC, Managing Director, Mr. Baba Fatajo along with other senior officials.