By Makutu Manneh
The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) announced on Tuesday that the country is operating with a power deficit of roughly 26 megawatts, prompting continued load shedding to avert a total blackout.
Speaking at a press briefing, Sanna Gomez, NAWEC’s operations and planning manager, said the nation’s current electricity capacity stands at about 78 megawatts, while peak demand reaches nearly 106 megawatts. “Demand is exceeding what is available,” Gomez said, noting that the shortfall is driven by challenges in fuel procurement, logistical constraints, and broader global supply disruptions.
Out of the 78 megawatts currently available, 52 percent is imported, while 24 percent comes from NAWEC’s domestic generation. “We are faced not only with obtaining fuel but also with the logistics of getting it on the ground,” Gomez explained.
Gomez appealed to Gambians to adopt energy-saving measures, emphasizing that even households with access to electricity must contribute to demand management. “Left to us alone, we would not want to load-shed anybody,” he said. “But unfortunately, the capacity is not there, and we have to implore the entire country to help and do energy conservation.”
“Left to us alone, we will not want to load-shed anybody, but unfortunately, the capacity is not there, and we have to implore the entire Gambia to help and do energy conservation,” he stated.
Load shedding, a controlled interruption of electricity supply, is a standard measure employed when demand exceeds generation capacity. By temporarily reducing consumption, the utility seeks to prevent a widespread and prolonged blackout across the nation.
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