Gambia Receives Two Generators From China To Ease Power Shortages

The Gambia took delivery of two generators from China with a combined capacity of 21 megawatts on Monday as it seeks to ease prolonged power shortages that have sparked protests.

The West African nation has experienced extended blackouts since June, particularly in the Greater Banjul area, disrupting communities and prompting residents to take to the streets.

The generators, each with a capacity of 10.5 megawatts, arrived at the port of Banjul after being purchased from China.

Vice President Muhammed Jallow received the equipment on behalf of President Adama Barrow, who is on his annual Meet the People Tour.

Jallow described the generators as a short-term intervention, saying the government was also pursuing medium- and long-term measures to address the country’s electricity problems.

“The government wants to install the capacity, and part of the medium and long-term plan is to make sure that the issue of electricity is permanently fixed,” he said.

The generators are expected to increase the country’s installed generation capacity and ease electricity shortages.

Their arrival follows Barrow’s pledge to resolve the electricity crisis by the end of October. Government officials had said meeting that deadline depended partly on the arrival of additional generating capacity.

Jallow said electricity supply had already stabilised, but the government wanted to expand generation capacity further to reduce the risk of another crisis.

He also reiterated Barrow’s pledge to achieve universal access to electricity by the end of 2026, extending power to every community in the country.

Development partners, including the Chinese government, had pledged support for that goal, he said.

Gallo Saidy, managing director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), said the generators would be installed and commissioned by the end of October.

“The machines have never been used; the only thing they need is to be installed,” he said