By Alieu Ceesay
The Gambia is set to host the 10th ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) on September 18–19, 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul. The event, organized by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines, will draw over 500 stakeholders from West Africa to advance renewable energy development under the theme “Accelerating Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Solutions for Growth in the ECOWAS Region.”
At a press briefing today at the Ministry’s headquarters in Bijilo, Honourable Nani Wara, Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, emphasized the forum’s role in showcasing The Gambia’s renewable energy potential to attract investors. “This forum is an opportunity for us to showcase the country’s renewable energy potential to investors that will be attending,” Wara said. “If we transition to renewables, we can easily take our people out of darkness. Energy costs are a disincentive to investment, and reducing them will help attract more opportunities into our country.”
The minister highlighted The Gambia’s strides in its energy transition, including the commissioning of a 23-megawatt solar plant in Jambur, operational mini-grids, and a recently tendered 50-megawatt solar project in Jara Soma, part of a 150-megawatt regional initiative with the West African Power Pool (WAPP). “We are fully aware that energy costs in most developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are very high for the average consumer,” Wara noted. “All efforts, either national or through regional cooperation, are being made to reduce these costs and ensure access to the most important resource we all need in our daily lives — energy.”
Inclusivity is a key focus, with the Ministry promoting women’s participation in the energy sector. “During the implementation of the Jambur solar project, we sponsored and trained over 40 young female engineers and technicians. Some are now working at the plant,” Wara said, underscoring efforts to bridge the gender gap in the traditionally male-dominated field.
ECREEE Executive Director Francis Sempore highlighted the region’s energy challenges, noting, “In West Africa, half of the people don’t have electricity, and only 30% of the population has access to clean cooking.” He announced that the forum will launch the ECOWAS Regional Initiative for Clean Cooking in West Africa, aiming to improve access, particularly for women in rural areas.
The two-day event will bring together ministers, development partners, financial institutions, private sector leaders, researchers, students, and civil society actors from the energy, climate, and development sectors. Discussions will focus on strengthening institutional, policy, and regulatory frameworks to unlock the region’s vast sustainable energy potential and accelerate the ECOWAS energy transition.
The forum is expected to foster collaboration and drive investment in renewable energy infrastructure, positioning The Gambia and the broader ECOWAS region as leaders in sustainable development.
