By: Staff Reporter
The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has informed the public of ongoing electricity supply challenges affecting the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region.
The company said the country is experiencing significant power disruptions and extended outages due to reduced electricity imports from the regional power network and limited domestic backup generation capacity.
NAWEC explained that the national electricity supply relies mainly on imports from the regional OMVG/WAPP network, while local generation is intended primarily as backup during peak demand or supply interruptions.
It said electricity imports have been reduced by up to 60 megawatts due to technical issues and fuel shortages affecting regional generation facilities, significantly impacting national supply.
The company added that domestic backup systems are not yet operating at full capacity due to ongoing maintenance, delays at key facilities and high fuel costs, resulting in a shortfall exceeding 50% of demand.
As a result, many communities are experiencing daily scheduled outages, with some areas facing cuts lasting more than 10 hours.
NAWEC said it has introduced emergency load management measures to distribute available power fairly, prioritising essential services such as hospitals and water supply systems.
The utility said it is working with regional partners to stabilise supply by restoring backup generation, increasing imports and monitoring system performance.
It said it expects a gradual return to normal electricity supply by mid-June 2026, depending on the restoration of imports and completion of maintenance works.
NAWEC described the situation as temporary, resulting from regional and operational challenges, and not a structural failure of the national system.
It apologised for the inconvenience caused and assured the public that efforts are ongoing to restore stable electricity supply while safeguarding essential services.