(JollofNews) – The Government of the Gambia is negotiating a deal to source electricity supply from neighbouring Senegal, the country’s Interior minister has announced.
Mai Ahmad Fatty said under the deal which is at an advanced stage, Senegal’s national electricity company, Senelec will power up Gambian communities that are currently experiencing erratic water and power supply.
According to Agence Press Africaine (APA), Gambia’s national electric and water company, Nawec, has been struggling with old generators and a lack of financial resources, due in part to millions of Dalasi in arrears of payments for services supplied, owed by consumers including public enterprises.
The company was established in June 1996 to generate and provide electricity, water and sewerage services for domestic, public and industrial purposes.
It succeeded the Gambia Utilities Corporation (GUC), which was established in 1972 and the Utilities Holding Corporation (UHC), which was established in 1992.
I am glad the Gambian government took my online advice. { smile}
I am all in for finding temporary and eventually permanent solutions to our energy crisis but why do i get the impression that Gambia is slowly being auctioned to senegal. First it was the bilateral fishing agreement where we all know that both the gambian and senegalese waters are being fished by Senegalese boats and the coast guards are too ill equipped to control the activities of those fisherman and now this electricity agreement. As brotherly as Senegalese might claim to be, to gambians, everything is borne out of interest, it is high time we start figuring out what ours is as a nation and learn to stand on our own two feet.
“coast guards are too ill equipped to control the activities of those fisherman ” those coast guards are Senegalese operatives, trained and equip by Africom, don’t kid yourself.
Kawsu look at these two documents regarding fishing between Gambia and Senegal
Signed 1992 http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/bi-4129.pdf
Signed 2006 http://agritrade.cta.int/Fisheries/Topics/ACP-EU-relations-FPAs/Gambia-and-Senegal-sign-fisheries-agreement
The Unvetted and Unilateralist Decisions of Contracting Out Gambians Birth Rights and Sovereignty to Senegal though the Gambian Ministry of the Interior is now Openly Manifested Again under the New Democratic Dispensation of the UDP LED REGIME. In three years or less, what Presidents Senghor, Joof and Wade were not able to accomplish in more than Fifty-five years, is being accomplish without a Referendum, or Gambian NAMs who are the People’s Representatives Excersing their Constitutional Prerogative of Debating and Voting For or Against such an Understanding. Gambia is being “Sold off Down the Senegal River” and the Gambians are Silent. Questions such as what is the Rate or Cost of Electricity on the Gambian Economy and Consumers? Who gets the Electricity from Senegal at what cost? Senegal has not provided enough Electricity to its Southern Boader, Cassamance or its Northern most Communities, yet it has enough Electricity to Sell to the Gambia? I smell something and it’s not the Sweet smell of DALASIS being Saved to be invested in the Gambia. What any and all Observers of Senegalese Politics and Politicians can agree on is that, Macky Sall have the Novice UDP LED REGIME OF Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty in his Pocket and is Slowly but Surely Accomplishing a Dream of Subjugating the Gambia as it has done with Cassamance. Welcome to Senegambia by Fiat and Manipulation by “Big” brother to the North Aided and Abetted by their Agents in the UDP LEADERSHIP AND THE TRIO AT THE HEAD OF THE UDP LED REGIME. MAY ALLAH/GOD BLESS, SAVE AND PROTECT THE GAMBIA.
The Gambia at this rate will be phagocytosed by Senegal, it has the army which has been graciously given to it by the CDEAO, it holds the joysticks of the economy and now the supply of water and electricity. The 200,000 Gambian majority Peulh and Toucouleurs who voted BARROW will regret to the rest of the Gambian population their valiant son Yahya DJAME that the Senegalese have put out by trafficking with the connivance of some countries of the CDEAO the last elections without giving him the recourse To challenge the results guaranteed by the constitution of the country.
Gambians are doomed, our Leaders had failed from the genesis. Mai Fatty, Ousainou Darboe and Adama Barrow are a bunch of good for nothing idiots. All hope is lost, God save The Gambia
Does Senegal produce enough electricity to supply 80-100 MW to Gambia?
Jeanclaude, Not that is Verifiable at this time. Let’s us suppose, Senegal does have the 80 to 100 Mega Watts to Supply The Gambia, the question still remains, why would they? They need all the Electric Supply Output that can lay a hand on. I again ask, why “Supply Gambia” with Electricity that Senegal on both Sides of the Gambia Needs? Why?? What’s in it for Macky Sall and his Investors in Senegal? What’s in it for Senegal? Who bears the Cost for the facilitation or Integration of making the Transmission of Electricity Possible? At what Cost for the Gambia and Gambians? For How Long? Significantly, who Negotiated the Deal? Under Circumstances and what Authority? What are the Terms of Reference? Who Signed Off on the Terms of Reference for the Gambia and for Senegal? What is their Financial Interest? These are just a few questions that a Delibrative National Assembly Should have been Allowed to Debate and Vote Up or Down, For or Against the Deal, Following a Detailed Scrutinization and Analysis of the Cost-Benefit of the Whole Deal. As it is, the Gambia Citizens have been Denied yet again another Right Enshrined in the Gambian Constitution by a Clique within UDP LED REGIME while the Gambia is being Sold Piece Meal by Piece to the Highest or Lowest Bidder. Being Suspicious of my brothers and sisters, but especially, Macky Sall and his Colleagues “Bearing Gifts” For The Gambia and Gambians, I Thought and Wondered Out loud while writing this piece what may be the reason why Macky Sall and Senegal seem to be “Generous” to the Gambia and Gambians with this “Offer” that may Burn us if we do not Pursue a Delibrative National Gambia For All Gambians Centered Agenda and Policy. Thinking and Wondering Out Loud, I am of the Opinion that the Proposed Chinese Power Generator or Plant that was reported to be Negotiated between the Gambia and China was a either Fake News or Failed through due to Amateurish, Malfeasance Handling of the Negotiations. It could also be that Macky Sall and Senegal don’t want that Project Consumated between China and the Gambia Without Senegal being an Integrated Part of such a Project. If Senegal is an integral part of the Project whether Directly or Indirectly, they Stand to Benefit a lot in the Short and Long Term. This is by virtue of Senegal being the more Industrialized of the two Countries. Therefore, Senegal would have the Lion’s Share of the Electricity Output, yet the Burden Sharing of Cost would be Equally Shared. Senegal and Macky Sall thus, gets to Tap into Gambian Resources like it is already doing in the Gambian Fisheries and Security with very little Cost and High Return. Those who may not know, Security in this case, includes Senegalese ECOMIG CONTINGENT in the Gambia. Such forces are Compensated or Reimbursed at a rate above and beyond the National Level as well as buys the Contributing Country, in this case Senegal, a Positive Diplomatic and International Relations Posture while Correspondingly Planting or Sowing an Image of the Receiving Country, in this case, the Gambia, as an “Unstable” and “Unsafe State”. Such an arrangement have Unintended Consequences in terms of Investments and Economic Development. Peace Keeping Forces of any kind in any State, is Not a Good thing. That is why Israel, and other Countries Refuse them on their Territories. To this end, the UDP Led Government Should endeavor to Resist Prolonging the ECOMIG FORCES OCCUPATION A DAY LONGER THAN AGREED ON BY A NAM Consulted, Debated, and Approved Mandate. The Current UDP Led Regime’s Unilateralist Decision Aided and Abetted by ECOWAS which also Benefits at the Cost of the Gambians by ECOWAS being Seen or Viewed as Providing Leadership and “democracy” with a small “d” and reaping Funding from the EU, UN and other Countries. I pray for a Collective Union for those in Authority to Cease and Desist Forthwith and in the Name of All Gambians, their Forefathers, Mothers and Offsprings Birth Rights, from the Wholesale Surrendering and Sale of the Gambia to Macky Sall and others yet to be Disclosed. I Implore the Gambian Authorities to Please, Not go through with this Enterprise until the Required Vetting and Due Diligence is Carried Out by All Constitutionally Designated Gambian Government Oversight Entities. One People, One Destiny.
SENEGAL HAVE AN EXCESS OF ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION .THE PROBLEM OF OPTIMAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY RESIDES AT THE LEVEL OF DISTRIBUTION NETWORK OF THE COMPANY WHICH IS VETUSTE
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/201701100317.html
The Senegalese electricity company (Senelec) and representatives of the Malian authorities in charge of energy signed an agreement on Monday for the sale of 20 megawatts of electricity in Mali.
Senegal, having stabilized its production after the enormous deficit noted in recent years, now has a surplus production according to the officials of Senelec. The opposite of Mali, which is experiencing a deficit in energy production. This country will therefore benefit from the Convention which now authorizes the Direction de la Senelec to sell 20 megawatts of its energy production in Mali whenever possible.
This is on the right track because, according to Senelec officials, production deficits in Mali are at peak hours different from those in Senegal. For the latter, from the point of view of production capacity, there is no longer any problem at Senelec. For comparison, the Director of Senelec, Moukhamadou Makhtar Cissé maintains that the load shedding has increased from 900 hours in 2011 to 66 hours in 2016.
Moreover, it is this improvement of Senelec that made the head of state decided to lower the electricity bill by 10% in the first two months of 2016.
Senegal supplies electricity to Mali about 20 MW and receives electricity from Mauritania. So senegal can supply electricity to the gambia When tribalists diola they detest everything that comes from Senegal As long as the military Senegalese are in the Gambia they will not be able to behead the citizens of Gambia. With the gas resources that Senegal will have in 2021 our country will be able to finish a lot of development program thus in the gambia thus reinforcing Senegambia.
Thus Sidi N. Bojang and his parents diolas can exile in guinee bissao where there is no horse
Joola Khaamoul Fass, Simmer Down with your uninformed characterization. Just as you are looking out for the interest of Senegal, so I am looking out for the Gambia interest in any Bi-lateral or Multi-lateral Agreements. I am not going to elevate you by Stopping low to your Level of Name calling and Insults. A Senegambia that is Negotiated between the Gambia and Senegal with both Nation States Approving the Union or Confederation by a Referendum is something I Pray and Hope for. However, the Confederation Must be Grounded and Tethered in Solid and Firm grounds under a Transparent and Clearly Defined Terms of Reference Guaranteeing or Protecting Equality in All Economic abd Political Activities and Affairs. Relevant National and International Institutions Should be involved and Witness the Instruments of Confederation. If this as you alleged, makes me a “Tribalist” l pled guilty and proudly do so. I recommend you look at the Cameroon, Tanzania and similar Mergers that were Undertaken with “Convenience” and Senegambia of 1981 you may with an objective and open mind see the Absolute need to be Concerned if you are a Gambian who Cares about The Gambia and the Gambians Future. Let the Two brother and sister Nation State’s Citizens’ have a Say on their and their children’s future. Not some Politicians aided and abetted by some Businessmen Closeted Behind Closed Doors Deciding the Faith of Millions of People in both Gambia and Senegal. “Trust But Verify”.
No at all but if we don’t have leaders Senegal will take over the Gambia , we need really politicians no undocumented security guards in the office my goodness
senegal now has a new province called GAMBIE
Very interesting contributions of a very high calibre>
we are getting power from Senegal because we can’t provide it on our own. When we talk of development, first and foremost is energy and power. The Gambia has never experience a one week continuous electric power since independent. The new government know what they are doing. Is it not better to get a low-cost quality power from Senegal than getting power from a Chinese company?.
I cannot understand why an agreement to buy electricity from Senegal is generating so much negative feelings, with some even insinuating subjugation of Gambia by Senegal or our country becoming a province of Senegal.
Certainly, concerns raised about transparency and accountability are genuine, and I hope the government will eventually provide more information on this or any future deals, but anything else is just exaggeration that has no basis.
As far as I can see, this agreement does not end the one with the Chinese, nor does it have any impacts on it. The agreement to buy electricity from Senegal, which already has the infrastructure and the excess energy to sell, is a short term solution to the erratic electricity situation today, whilst the agreement with the Chinese is a long term deal to develop the electric energy sector in The Gambia, which will take several years to come to fruition.
So please, let’s put things into their proper perspectives. Cooperation between our countries should be celebrated because it brings ONE People, living in two states, closer together. It should also be improved and expanded into all sectors of our National endeavours, where possible, feasible and appropriate.
The Gambia’s independence cannot be compromised by regional cooperation, and the diplomatic positions of the two countries on the current Gulf crisis clearly shows that our government pursues an independent foreign policy from Senegal, which has joined the Saudi camp to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar.
So cheer up guys. The government is doing the right thing, in our national interest, to address an urgent electric energy crisis that is jeopardising our enthusiasm for the change we achieved, because it is reversing the nasty image of Yaya Jammeh and his APRC, as more and more people yearn for the seemingly better electricity situation under him.