The Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), Mr. Gallo Saidy, has disclosed that the company spends an average of six hundred million Gambian Dalasi (D600 million) per month, while generating about D646 million from electricity sales monthly. Mr. Saidy made these revelations in an interview with Foroyaa on Tuesday.
“Electricity sales on average in a month are D646 million, while the total electricity purchase is D480 million with other expenses at D120 million monthly,” Mr. Saidy explained.
Mr. Saidy emphasized that increasing the use of solar energy could significantly reduce operational costs, particularly fuel expenses.
“The more solar we have, the better. If you have a good solar system, you are not going to be spending money on buying fuel. It’s easier to manage, and a cheaper source of energy,” he said.
He highlighted, however, some challenges with solar energy, especially during evenings and the rainy season when sunlight is scarce.
“The only bottleneck there is during the evenings and during the rainy season, when it is very cloudy, and raining for a day or two or three. You are not getting enough sunlight,” he noted.
He added that NAWEC manages this by sourcing electricity from Guinea and Senegal, in addition to its own generators.
Currently, NAWEC’s energy mix consists of about 15% solar and 85% thermal energy, primarily from Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), and hydroelectric power from Guinea. Mr. Saidy pointed out that the main disadvantage of solar is the cost and technological challenge of energy storage.
“During the day, from say 9 o’clock up to around 4, 5, 6pm, you are okay if it is not raining or cloudy,” he said. “You need to have storage, and that part of the component is slightly expensive. Technology advancements may lead to lower prices for large storage capacities, allowing for flexibility in time management, such as evening, night, midnight, or summer storage.”
During the rainy season, NAWEC sources up to 80% of its energy from Guinea, supplemented by imports from Senegal and hydro sources, which Mr. Saidy described as environmentally friendly.
Asked about the country’s efforts to shift fully to solar energy, Mr. Saidy said that in three years, The Gambia could have enough solar power.
“The solar plant in Jambur and Soma currently has 23 and 50 megawatts, respectively. With other potential projects in the pipeline within three years, along with other solar energy sources, we can have 150 megawatts. Within the next two or three years, we should have enough solar power,” he stated.
He stressed, however, that investment in the electricity distribution network is crucial.
“You can have power, but if you don’t have the capacity to distribute it safely, then you have a problem. That’s why we invest a lot on the network, to improve our network, upgrade. So that we can go to the 225 level,” Mr. Saidy concluded.
