At the United Nations (UN) 5th Conference for Least Developed Countries (LDC5), the Republic of The Gambia, the European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced the signature of a €24.08 million EU Global Gateway grant to be used alongside an €8 million EIB loan to support the implementation of a renewable energy on and off-grid generation, transmission and distribution programme across the Gambia.
This new grant agreement brings the overall financial backing to the project from the European Investment Bank and the European Union to more than €100 million.
The Statement of Signature, relating to this grant agreement, is being signed today by Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of the Republic of the Gambia, and Thomas Östros, EIB Vice-President..
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said: "Affordable, reliable and sustainable access to electricity for all is a Global Gateway priority. It increases strategic autonomy, and without electricity communities cannot benefit from new technologies in full. I am delighted to sign this €24 million grant agreement for solar panels to power up schools and health centres in the Gambia. This flagship green energy project is a fantastic win-win for climate action and human development, for empowering young people and for creating more economic opportunities across the country."
"Investment in Gambia''s energy infrastructure is essential to improve economic opportunities as well as better daily lives. The EIB welcomes in particular the additional Team Europe grant support in cooperation with Gambian, international and European partners. Together, this scheme will enable the Gambia to be the first country in Africa to provide renewable energy electrification for all public school and health facilities." said EIB Vice-President Thomas Östros. He added: "It is a flagship and impactful project supported by EIB Global, our new branch dedicated to development and international partnerships outside the EU. We are strongly committed to support climate action in Africa and around the world."
The project will transform electricity access in rural communities across the country and ensure that education and health services benefit from reliable and clean power. More than 1,000 schools and 100 health centres in rural parts of the Gambia that currently have limited electricity access are expected benefit from reliable energy supply through new connections to the national energy network and provision of off-grid solar and battery systems.
Once operational, the Gambia Renewable Energy project will increase energy supply in the Gambia by one fifth. In addition to increasing access to electricity in rural communities, it supports the construction of a new photovoltaic plant at Jambur near Banjul, and reinforcement of power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Over the last decade the European Investment Bank has provided €5.3 billion for energy investment across Africa.
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
About the European Investment Bank (EIB)
EIB Global is the EIB Group''s specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance. EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world.
Through EIB Global, the bank is strengthening its presence in Africa. Over the last decade the EIB has provided more than €28 billion for innovative technologies, green energy, water, education, agriculture, telecom, health and business investment in 40 countries across the continent. Since the start of the pandemic alone, the EIB has provided more than €8.5 billion for new private and public investment across Africa.
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Implementation of an energy sector program in Gambia, including (1) up to 20 MW grid-connected PV plant, (2) grid reinforcement investments, (3) electricity sector institutional and technical support and (4) off-grid PV systems installed on up to 1100 public schools and health facilities.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Naturgy have agreed a €1 bn loan to support investments in new solar energy and onshore wind power stations, as well as to modernise and convert existing sites into hybrid facilities in Spain. A €400 million initial tranche of the total agreement was signed in Madrid. The loan will also be used, to a lesser extent, for investments in batteries for renewable energy storage.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted Nortegas Group a framework financing of up to €80 million to enable group subsidiary Nortegas Renovables to finance the construction of biomethane plants in Spain and launch a digital operations centre.
The Gambia has inaugurated a 23 MW solar plant with 8 MWh of battery storage as part of the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP), which targets universal electricity access by 2025.
Image: Aboodi Vesakaran, Unsplash
The Gambia has commissioned a 23 MW solar plant in Jambur, near the country''s west coast.
Construction on the plant, which includes 8 MWh of battery storage, started in February. Once completed, it is expected to increase the country''s energy supply by one-fifth, providing electricity to around 18,500 households.
According to Gambia''s National Water and Electricity Company, the project has created 1,250 direct jobs from the construction phase and a three-year operations and maintenance contract.
President Adama Barrow said the installation will help the nation to move toward generating 50% of its power supply from renewable energy sources by 2030.
"This is our national target, and the message is clear – as a responsible member of the international community, the Gambia is committed to the global energy transition," said Barrow.
The Jambur plant is part of the GERMP, which is being supported by the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the European Union. Together they are providing $141 million to the $165 million project, as the country works toward achieving universal access to electricity by 2025.
Feyi Boroffice, resident representative of the World Bank to the Gambia, said the vision of universal access to energy is being supported through the development of medium- and low-voltage networks. He said the GERMP will provide electricity to more than 700 communities for the first time in the country''s history.
"These are significant historic milestones for The Gambia," he added. “There are also plans underway to develop the country''s potential to become an electricity exporter to the sub-region through the development of a 150 MW solar park in Soma.”
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