By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Gallo Saidy, Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), has acknowledged that the electricity supplied by Karpowership was expensive but a necessary and viable solution, as it reliably provided 30 megawatts to stabilize The Gambia’s power supply.
At a press conference in Jabang on May 7, 2025, Saidy addressed the recent end of NAWEC’s contract with Karpowership and outlined plans to fill the resulting 28% electricity gap with alternative sources.
The decision not to renew the contract with Karpowership, effective May 2, 2025, has sparked discussions about the cost and reliability of The Gambia’s electricity supply.
Saidy defended the past partnership, emphasizing that Karpowership’s contribution was critical at a time when no other viable options existed.
“There was a need for power. They brought 30 megawatts into the country to stabilize the supply. That power was valuable to the Gambian people,” he said, noting that Karpowership managed fuel, maintenance, and operations to deliver electricity, which NAWEC then resold to consumers. “Whatever their costs were to generate that 30 megawatts at the agreed price, that’s business.”
Saidy stressed that the arrangement was justified because it met an urgent need. “The value was there because Gambians needed Karpower and used it. It was good business for NAWEC at the time since we had no alternative,” he added. However, he highlighted that NAWEC now has more options, including its own generators, renewable energy plants, Senelec, and the OMVG Power Plant.
“We are going to buy from the cheapest sources going forward. Before, we couldn’t buy power from Brikama to Banjul, but now it’s possible,” said Saidy, signaling a shift toward more affordable and sustainable energy solutions as part of The Gambia’s Energy Road Map 2022-2040.
Addressing concerns about recent power outages in communities like Airport, Yundum, Busumbala, Farato, and Tranquil, Pateh Sowe, NAWEC’s Head of Operations, dismissed claims linking the cuts to Karpowership’s exit.
He attributed the disruptions to an overloaded generator during peak periods, exacerbated by delays in an ongoing OIC electricity project aimed at improving supply in these areas. “We issued a statement in February about constraints in these regions. During hot weather, the generator feeding these areas gets overloaded, forcing us to do load shedding to stabilize supply,” Sowe clarified.
Meanwhile, MD Saidy reassured the public that NAWEC is confident in meeting electricity demand without Karpowership, leveraging new infrastructure and partnerships to ensure reliability.
The transition aligns with The Gambia’s broader energy strategy to achieve greater energy independence and affordability, as confirmed by NAWEC’s recent statements.
As NAWEC pivots to cost-effective alternatives, Gambians await the impact of these changes on electricity access and stability. They hope that ongoing projects will address persistent challenges in the power sector.
