An international power firm has announced plans to construct a 10 MW solar plant in Gambia a move that will boost electricity supply in the country. Emerging Power Ghana Limited has already signed a 25-year power purchase deal with Gambia’s National Water & Electricity Company (NAWEC).

Yasser Gamil, Emerging Power (Gambia) Ltd.,MD signed the agreement on behalf of the company while the National Water & Electricity Company was represented by Ebrima Sanyang, the company’s MD. The signing took place Banjul, The Gambia.

Emerging Power intends to commence the project construction in May 2016. The project is expected to increase energy access in one of the ECOWAS Member State in which over 60% of the population are not yet connected to electricity. However, per capita electricity consumption of 136 kilowatt-hours (KWh) have been consumed in 2012.

The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) has contributed in the framework of the ECREEE/GIZ facility with the technical support to the draft PPA which has contributed to the agreement signing between the National Water & Electricity Company (NAWEC) and the IPP Emerging Power (Gambia) Ltd., for the construction of a 10 MW PV Solar Power plant Project.

Furthermore, the project is a contribution through the use of the existing renewable energy resources to the needs of the country in order to overcome its dual challenges of energy access and security of supply.

The solar plant project is being owned by the Dubai-based Z-One Holding, and Tryba Energy, a French based renewable power investment and development company.

Z-ONE Holding is responsible in growing the Middle Eastern and African PV markets. Infact, it holds stakes shares in eight companies operating across the PV value chain, from equipment manufacturing and distribution to consultancy, as well as EPC services and project development.
Recently, the company established a joint venture with China Sunergy to market and sell the company’s solar PV products in the Middle East and Africa.