Following the decision not to renew its electricity supply agreement with Karpowership, the National Water and Electricity Corporation (Nawec) has reassured the public that it now has the capacity to meet the country’s energy demands independently.
At a press conference, Nawec’s Managing Director, Gallo Saidy, explained that the Turkish company was brought in during a time of urgent need in 2018, but the situation has since changed.
“Karpowership filled a critical gap, and we are thankful for that. However, today we have other, more cost-effective options,” Saidy said. “It’s a competitive market, and it would be unwise to ignore better alternatives.”
He noted that Nawec has made significant upgrades, including the ability to transfer 225 kilovolts of power from Brikama to Banjul—enough to meet the country’s current needs without external suppliers.
While acknowledging public concern about Nawec’s ability to maintain supply, he emphasized that new infrastructure developments and regional interconnection projects have put the corporation in a strong position.
“This decision is part of a broader national strategy to transition toward energy independence,” Saidy said. “With domestic power stations and the OMVG Interconnection Network in place, we are now able to manage and generate our own electricity.”
He concluded by encouraging the public to shift their mindset and support the efforts of Nawec, calling the current progress “a proud moment” for the nation.
