The Gambia: Power Crisis Deepens As Gambia Loses 60MW Of Imported Electricity

Power outages in The Gambia, particularly across the Greater Banjul Area (GBA) and the West Coast Region (WCR), have intensified following a reduction of up to 60 megawatts in imported electricity, officials said.

Authorities say the reduction is due to technical issues and fuel shortages affecting generation facilities within the regional power network, as well as constraints on domestic backup generation.

The West African nation’s electricity supply relies heavily on imports through the OMVG/WAPP regional power network, with local generation serving primarily as backup during periods of peak demand or supply interruptions.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) confirmed that electricity imports had been reduced by up to 60 megawatts because of technical problems and fuel shortages affecting generation facilities within the regional network.

“This has significantly impacted the country’s main source of power,” the company said.

NAWEC described the situation as particularly challenging because domestic backup systems, which are intended to mitigate such disruptions, are not yet fully available at the required capacity. The company cited ongoing maintenance, delays in critical works at key facilities, and operational constraints linked to high fuel costs.

As a result, the country is currently facing a power shortfall exceeding 50 percent of electricity demand.

Many communities are now experiencing daily, synchronized power outages, with some areas enduring blackouts lasting more than 10 hours.

The situation has sparked widespread complaints from citizens, with some accusing NAWEC’s leadership and the government of failing to deliver on promises to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply.

According to NAWEC, the utility and its regional partners are working to stabilize the situation by accelerating the restoration of backup generation capacity, engaging suppliers to restore and increase electricity imports, and continuously monitoring system performance.

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The company said it expects a gradual return to normal electricity supply by mid-June 2026, subject to the timely restoration of regional imports and the completion of ongoing maintenance works.

NAWEC stressed that the crisis is temporary and reflects a convergence of regional and operational challenges rather than a structural failure of the national electricity system.

The utility acknowledged the inconvenience caused and expressed regret over the impact on households and businesses.

It assured the public that every effort is being made to restore normal electricity supply as quickly as possible while safeguarding essential services.

NAWEC said it remains committed to transparency and will continue to provide regular updates as the situation evolves.