The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to The Gambia, with an active project portfolio exceeding US$800 million, as the country advances efforts to expand electricity access and modernise its energy infrastructure.
The World Bank country representative made the remarks during the inauguration of ECOREAP infrastructure in Pirang, located in the West Coast Region. He described the milestone as part of a broader transformation journey aimed at ensuring reliable, affordable and clean electricity for households, schools, clinics and businesses nationwide.
According to him, progress in the sector has been built step by step through successive projects and reforms anchored on institutional stability and a shared national vision of universal electricity access. He highlighted that in 2021, the OMVG Soma substation was inaugurated, strengthening regional integration and improving grid stability. The substation laid the foundation for integrating high voltage transmission into the national electricity network.
Momentum continued in 2023 with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jambur Solar Park, a project designed to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and diversify the country’s energy mix. In 2024, the Jambur Solar Park was officially commissioned, delivering 23 megawatts of solar generation capacity along with 8 megawatt hours of battery storage. The project marked a significant milestone, demonstrating that The Gambia could successfully implement modern grid connected renewable energy systems incorporating both solar and storage technologies.
In 2025, high voltage infrastructure under the GERMP program was commissioned, further reinforcing transmission capacity and distribution networks across the country. The representative noted that in 2026, the focus has shifted to expanding access activities that will directly benefit more than 700 communities nationwide.
He added that effective project execution by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, NAWEC and the broader implementation teams has generated cost savings that are being reinvested. As a result, resources have been mobilised to extend benefits to an additional 200 communities under both the GERMP and ECOREAP programs.
Beyond public sector investments, the World Bank official pointed to growing private sector confidence in The Gambia’s energy market. He noted that procurement for the upcoming Soma Solar Park has attracted significant investor interest, reflecting improvements in regulatory frameworks, planning mechanisms and infrastructure readiness.
Recent sector reforms, combined with tariff compensation measures aimed at reducing production costs and easing financial pressure on households, were cited as evidence of strong political commitment to consolidating gains in the energy sector.
With a project portfolio exceeding $800 million, the World Bank’s engagement spans generation, transmission, distribution and access initiatives. The overarching objective is to build a sustainable power system capable of supporting economic growth, improving living standards and strengthening resilience.
The latest inauguration signals continued momentum toward universal access, positioning energy reform as a central pillar of The Gambia’s development strategy.
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