THE GAMBIA THINKS WIND

Gambia: Wind Power, a Diversification of Energy
Pateh Baldeh, 25 February 2009 (FOROYAA Newspaper via All Africa)

"…[T]he recently inaugurated wind mill project in Batokunku is a diversification of the country's energy sector…NAWEC's mission is to provide reliable and environmentally sensitive water and power services to meet customer needs at the required quality and quantity at sustainable prices that will ensure the financial viability of the company and support the social and economic development of The Gambia…their objectives are investment and technical improvement in rural electrification. Their plan is to commence this year in the North Bank, Central and Upper River Regions.

"The Batokunku project…has several aspects, among them, the provision of sustainable and affordable energy to the community…the Batokunku Turbine project can be the gateway to further development projects in the framework of renewable energy within the Gambia."

From the website of David Beardsley and Margaret de Wolf of Sifoe in The Gambia (click to enlarge)

"With the completion of the wind turbine project, a milestone of diversification in the energy sector was laid…The results…indicate that wind energy will be a source of energy which can be harnessed in the Gambia. Wind speeds measured are far higher than initially expected…

"…[I]n May 2008 a simplified but fully applicable and operational power purchase agreement was prepared and signed…which finally led to the erection of the plant…immediately after this NAWEC executed the connection of the electrical installations to its network…[and] handed over to the community of Batokunku 50 electricity meters which will allow the project to better control the consumption…Batokunku will use the proceeds generated for other development projects…for any excess energy which is injected into the NAWEC network, NAWEC will pay that amount to the community account which is meant to support the village…to further encourage the development of renewable energy projects."