OMVG Delegation Assesses Gambia’s Power Infrastructure Amid Supply Challenges
A senior delegation from the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Gambie (OMVG) travelled to Banjul in early November 2024 to evaluate the status of the regional power interconnection assets located in The Gambia. Led by High Commissioner Demba Jallow, the team’s visit came at a time when the country continues to grapple with intermittent electricity supply, a constraint that hampers both household comfort and industrial productivity.
Purpose of the Visit
The primary objective was to verify the operational condition of OMVG‑owned substations and transmission lines, and to gather first‑hand information on how the interconnection project is influencing grid stability and service delivery. By engaging directly with the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), the delegation sought to identify coordination gaps and explore avenues for improving reliability across the national network.
Site Inspections and Stakeholder Dialogue
During the field tour, the delegation inspected several critical assets:
- The Brikama 132 kV substation, a key node linking Gambian generation to the OMVG backbone.
- The Soma‑Brikama transmission corridor, which carries power from the Sambangalou hydropower plant in Guinea.
- Auxiliary equipment including protective relays, SCADA interfaces, and grounding systems at the Brikama facility.
Following the inspections, a concise but substantive meeting was held with NAWEC officials at the Brikama substation. Discussions centred on:
- Aligning maintenance schedules to minimise outage durations.
- Enhancing real‑time data exchange between OMVG’s network control centre and NAWEC’s dispatch centre.
- Developing joint contingency plans for extreme weather events, which have increasingly impacted transmission lines in the coastal zone.
Key Remarks from Officials
High Commissioner Demba Jallow highlighted the strategic value of the ground‑level assessment:
“This visit provides us with an important opportunity to assess the impact of the OMVG interconnection project on the ground. We are encouraged by the progress observed and reiterate our commitment to support member states, including The Gambia, by providing a platform for reliable and sustainable electricity supply.”
Mr. Ousman Hane, Secretary General of OMVG, underscored the network’s role in regional integration:
“The OMVG network remains a cornerstone of regional energy integration. Strengthening operational cooperation with NAWEC is crucial to ensure the efficiency and long‑term sustainability of the system.”
From the utility side, Mr. Pateh Sowe, Group Head of Electricity at NAWEC, welcomed the partnership:
“NAWEC appreciates OMVG’s continued support in improving our transmission capacity. This partnership is crucial to improving service delivery and ensuring our customers benefit from a more stable power supply.”
Environmental stewardship was also emphasized by Mr. Ebrima Sanyang, Director of Environment and Sustainable Development at OMVG:
“Sustainability remains at the core of OMVG’s operations. We are committed to ensuring that infrastructure development continues to meet environmental standards while supporting economic growth.”
Operational insights were shared by Mr. Abdoulaye Toure, Operations Manager of the OMVG Network in The Gambia:
“Operational performance within the Gambia network is steadily improving. Continued coordination with NAWEC will further improve reliability and efficiency across the system.”
Implications for Regional Energy Integration
The OMVG interconnection project, which links the hydroelectric potentials of Guinea, Guinea‑Bissau, Senegal and The Gambia, aims to deliver up to 200 MW of transfer capacity across the sub‑region (OMVG, 2023). According to the World Bank’s 2023 Energy Progress Report, The Gambia’s national electrification rate stood at approximately 56 %, with rural access lagging behind at 30 % (World Bank, 2023). By bolstering cross‑border trade, the OMVG network offers a pathway to narrow this gap, reduce reliance on costly diesel generation, and lower carbon emissions.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening NAWEC‑OMVG Collaboration
Both parties affirmed their intent to institutionalise cooperation through:
- Quarterly technical workshops focused on asset performance metrics and fault‑response times.
- Joint investment studies to evaluate upgrades needed for the Brikama‑Soma corridor to accommodate future renewable inflows.
- A shared GIS‑based asset management platform to improve transparency and streamline maintenance planning.
These steps are expected to enhance grid resilience, support the Gambia’s Vision 2030 targets for universal electricity access, and reinforce the OMVG’s reputation as a reliable facilitator of regional energy security.
