The Gambia Begins Peak-Hour Load Shedding As Electricity Demand Hits 140 MW

The Gambia on Saturday began implementing load shedding during peak hours, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., following an unforeseen surge in electricity demand and constraints on power imports, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) said.

In a statement issued on Saturday, NAWEC said the country had experienced an unforeseen surge in electricity demand during peak periods, reaching up to 140 MW nationwide.

The utility attributed the increase to prevailing high temperatures.

“This demand surge has coincided with constraints on electricity imports, despite NAWEC currently operating four local generating units,” the company said.

According to NAWEC, the situation has been further compounded by a technical incident affecting one of the major power-generating units on the import side.

“In view of these developments, NAWEC will institute load shedding during peak hours, mainly between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., affecting several parts of the country,” it said.

NAWEC said the measure was necessary to maintain the secure and stable operation of the available power system.

The company apologised for the inconvenience and appealed to customers for their patience and cooperation, adding that it would continue to provide regular updates through its official communication channels as it works to manage the situation and ensure stable power supply.