Gambia's National Water and Electric Co. (NAWEC) has started the construction of a 23 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Jambur. In addition, the utility announced that the World Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will finance the PV farm under the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP).
The project will enhance the power generation capacity and transmission network efficiency of NAWEC in order to expand access to electricity for socioeconomic development. This is consistent with, among other government policies, the National Development Plan and The Gambia Electricity Sector Roadmap. The facility, once completed, will be the first ground-mounted solar plant in service in the Gambia.
The Gambian electrical network is mostly mini-grids, which the government wants to turn into hybrid mini-grids with renewable energy sources. Gambia passed the Renewable Energy Act in 2013 to encourage sustainable energy with 35% electricity access.
