GAMBIANS PAY HIGHEST PRICE FOR ELECTRICITY IN THE WORLD – EU

European Union (EU) programme manager Sylvain Lequere has said the rate at which Gambians continue to pay electricity in The Gambia is among the highest in the world.

“Gambians pay one of highest price for electricity in the world, thus limiting again the access to energy for the population,” he said.

Representing EU Charge d’Affaires Mrs Agnes Guillaud at the launching of a renewable energy project funded by Global Environment Fund (GEF) and United Nations
Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) held recently, Mr Lequere continued his testaments on the poor electricity rate and power supply systems, saying the country’s energy system is currently dealing with major constraints such as ageing power plants, inefficient transmission and distribution system. Another constrain, he noted is the high dependence to fuel and “legal frameworks that are unfavourable to private investments”.

The consequences of these constraints have gravely resulted in low access to electricity for majority of Gambians. Only 35% of the country’s 1.8 million have access to power, of which only 6% is for the up-country.
“This is also limiting the development of the privates sector in the country,” he noted.

hike in oil price may lead to further electricity cost improvement in Gambia

For the minister of Petroleum Teneng Mba Jaiteh, the energy situation in the country is characterised by high dependence on biomass fuels, limited access to modern energy services and unsustainable dependence on imported fossil fuel.

“Almost all of the Gambia’s modern energy service requirements are met from imported fossil-based energy sources, which is not only affecting the country’s foreign exchange reserve, thus making the country vulnerable to fluctuations in world oil prices, but it also results in the emission of greenhouse gases,” she said.

despite the cost of power, many households run 24hr without light

She noted government’s commitment to reduce the country’s dependence on imported energy sources and help fight against climate change.

Whilst she hailed the conceptualisation of the launched project, minister Jaiteh said the move seeks to support enterprises in the rural areas of the country, thereby “improving rural incomes and reducing poverty”.

“The project will also create the necessary market environment by developing the appropriate legal and regulatory framework that will ensure full participation of the private sector in the renewable energy sub-sector,” she added.
She unveiled government’s intention to redefine the country’s energy supply system on a more sustainable path. “The government stands ready to champion the global campaign as we firmly believe that renewable energy is the energy for the future,” she pointed out.

The project is expected to generate multiple benefits to different players and stakeholders within the country and at the global environmental level.